CHAPTER I 



THE BIOLOGICAL AND TRADITIONAL FACTORS OF RACE 

 PROGRESS 



In the first part of this work we examined the mechanism of 

 heredity under those aspects which chiefly interest the sociologist. 

 In the second part we examined certain aspects of social 

 pathology which help to throw light on the existing conditions 

 of society ; and this examination has led us to recognise the fact 

 that, unfortunately, the beneficial influence of natural selection 

 is not allowed suf&cient free play in social life ; and the further 

 fact that we are in presence of symptoms, serious and deep- 

 seated, of social disease, which, if it be permitted to gaia ground, 

 may lead to deplorable results. We propose, in the third part, 

 to deal with the question as to how it may be possible to diminish, 

 if not to eradicate, these pathological factors which produce a 

 weakening of the social organism and waste so much of its 

 strength. 



The tendency of organic evolution, its purpose — ^in as far as 

 we are able to judge, and in as far as we may venture to ascribe 

 a purpose to an evolution governed by iron mechanical laws — 

 is the greatest possible multipUcation of life. In the fijst chapter 

 of this work, when dealing with the factors of selection, we 

 saw that excessive multiplication was one of the essential features 

 of the universal struggle for existence ; and we further saw that 

 this seeming extravagance of Nature is not without its profound 

 significance. For it is in the interest of the species to obtain 

 the greatest possible multipUcation of its members, an interest 



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