428 HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT 



of reproduction, even though no marvellous 

 improvement in the human race can be ex- 

 pected as a result of such a feeble measure. 



1. Possible and Impossible Ideals.— -What 

 the future evolution of the human race may 

 lead to is an interesting speculation, but it is 

 and can be only a speculation. There is no 

 present evidence that there will ever be a 

 higher animal than man on the earth, and the 

 only evidence that there may be a higher spe- 

 cies than Homo sapiens is to be found in the 

 fact that there have been lower species of men 

 in the past and that evolution has been on the 

 whole progressive. The idea that by the aid 

 of that infant industry eugenics a new race of 

 supermen is shortly to be produced is an iri- 

 descent dream, and the fantastic demand of 

 some enthusiasts for changes in racial fashions 

 has served to bring this whole subject of eu- 

 genics into disrepute among thoughtful men. 



To a considerable extent the ideals regard- 

 ing individuals and society have differed in 

 different ages and races in the past, but with 

 the closer communications which have been es- 

 tablished between all parts of the earth in 



