Justice in Death 83 



a greater number as the reward for fitness in different 

 degrees; and a shortened or weakened renewal is held by 

 few or fewer successors, as a consequence of less fitness and 

 ability, yet there always remains, so long as some survive, a 

 possible hope of re-establishment. The reward may be short 

 or indefinitely prolonged and the punishment may be 

 mercifully alleviated and withdrawn. But this view of 

 the consequences of conduct, this appearance of just and 

 equitable proportion takes shape and becomes evident only 

 when several individuals of successive generations are con- 

 sidered at one time, as a unit, in relation to any given act or 

 piece of conduct. It is evident that at the first consideration 

 of things beyond the single life of the single individual; at 

 the first appearance of consequences as a debt to be paid 

 because previously incurred, there appear, involved in the 

 responsibility of the individual, certain others who are or 

 were interested with him, and who did or actually do share 

 with him normal consequences of his acts. And in the vary- 

 ing closeness of this interest the kinfolk, that is to say, the 

 progenitors and the progeny, the former who made him 

 what he is, and the latter who will be what he makes, are in 

 most cases the closest in alliance. These taken together con- 

 stitute the lineal group which might be called the kinfolk 

 unit of conduct. Now it may well be that this kinfolk unit 

 receives an award of consequences in just proportion to its 

 conduct. There may be needed many generations or few 

 to complete the cycle of award, or it may develop in one. It 

 is a variable unit, this kinfolk, sometimes certain conduct 

 may embrace only two successive generations of individual 

 lives, at other times many more, at times possibly hundreds. 



