Biological Possibilities for the Human Species 
in the Next Ten Thousand Years 
J. B. S. HALDANE 
certainty—which is why it is always foolish, and often 
wicked, to make a promise—the best I can do is to suggest 
some alternative possibilities. ‘There is however one generaliza- 
tion which can be made with fair confidence. Important 
historical events usually surprise those to whom they happen. 
However the study of history has at least this advantage, that 
to those who have learned its lessons the events of their own 
time may bring joy, sorrow, and surprise, but not amazement, 
despair, or complete confidence. 
My political anticipations have usually been wrong, though I 
backed one winner. In 1932 I stated that the educational 
system of the Soviet Union was being developed in such a way 
that it was likely to overtake other states in science, and con- 
sequently in other fields also. 
My second preliminary point is that I shall not draw a sharp 
line between physiology and psychology. Much that is classi- 
fied as psychology would in my opinion better be classified as 
physiology of the senses, of muscular co-ordination, and of the 
brain. 
My third is to draw your attention as forcibly as I can to the 
sea lion (Otaria californica) and to the late Alfred Kinsey. The 
sea lion has a fantastic capacity for balancing objects on its 
nose, and appears to enjoy doing so. Whether this species ever 
employs this capacity in nature I do not know. Of course, very 
fine co-ordination of the neck muscles is clearly useful, but the 
actual balancing capacity must be a by-product. The great 
advances in evolution have often been the use of a structure 
S= no statement about the future can be made with 
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