DISCUSSION 
that point of view)—their great emphasis on natural law. I 
think they would say that we should be very careful before we 
distrust what has worked for about a million years in the 
human species and for longer than that in the animal creation, 
for this is one aspect of natural law. In this connexion, I have 
never understood how the human race got over the biological 
hurdle of moving from polygamy to monogamy. Under the 
polygamous system the favoured and cultured person, the king 
or chief, sires a large number of people in the community, and 
under those conditions we ought to have intelligence building 
up more rapidly than under the conditions of monogamy. As 
far as I understand, the human race was polygamous for the 
best part of a million years, whereas it has been monogamous 
in varying degrees of stability for a very short period of time. 
Until somebody can demonstrate to me how we have abolished 
polygamy and still progressed I shall be sceptical about any 
new changes. I hope none of my remarks will be taken to 
mean that I dissociate myself from what I understand as the 
Christian ethics of these matters. 
Haldane: I made that point some 25 years ago by pointing 
out that according to many eugenic articles a Turk should 
always get the better of an Armenian or a Jew in a business 
deal. 
Huxley: Ceterts paribus! 
Clark: Dr. Trowell used the phrase “‘natural law”’ in the 
sense of something which has been going on for a very long 
time. I would define it differently; it may coincide with what 
has been the practice of mankind or it may not. Several people 
have raised the question of what is the purpose of man on earth. 
I feel a bit hesitant at entering this field and would have pre- 
ferred a professional to have tackled it—but the main purpose 
of man on earth is to love God and obey his commandments. 
I know that poses a difficulty for people who deny God’s 
existence but I think they ought to take a look at this view, and 
consider how other conclusions follow from it. Cultural fulfil- 
ment and enjoyment are secondary purposes in man’s existence, 
not his primary purpose. 
292 
