LAWS OF MULTIPLICATION, 



291 



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a theory of variation is still far from agreed upon. If how- 

 ever we bear in mind that the amount of evolution in given 

 time is but small our knowledge seems not insufficient for the 

 practical deductions which are so pressingly demanded; yet it 

 is here that the most serious disagreement has prevailed. 

 Thus the Malthusian position is obviously inadequate, in not 

 allowing for the Darwinian one; yet the converse also is 

 undeniable, for the position of laissez-faii-e^ upon which Darwin 

 and Spencer alike take their stand, not 

 only almost ignores the wellbeing of the 

 individual in considering the advance- 

 ment of the species, but is even then 

 too optimistic, since it not only fails 

 to accelerate the progressive evolution 

 which is alone considered, but also fails 

 to provide against the equal possibility 

 of degenerative change. Are we then 

 simply to return to the somewhat crude 

 proposals and excessive hopes for the 

 increase of individual wellbeing due to 

 Malthus or his followers, based too as 

 these have been on imperfect pre- 

 Spencerian knowledge ? 



The answer is not far to seek, — it 

 lies in the generalisation above estab- 

 hshed; yet it is remarkable that Mr 

 Spencer, after not only estabhshing the 

 inverse variation of individuation and 

 genesis among species in general, but 

 even showing for the human species in 

 particular that it is essentially upon 

 increase of the psychical activities that 

 the increased mdividuation and dimin- 

 ished genesis of the future must depend, 

 should not have proceeded to a fuller application. For unless 

 the main generalisation be abandoned, it is obvious that the 

 progress of the species and of the individual alike is secured and 

 accelerated whenever action is transferred from the negative 

 side of merely seeking directly to repress genesis, to the 

 positive yet indirect side of proportionally increasing individua- 

 tion. This holds true of all species, yet most fully of man, 

 since that modification of psychical activities in which his 



Let the perpendiculars above the 

 line A B denote the increasing 

 degree of total individuation 

 of a series of forms i, 2, 3, 4, 

 5, 6 (say Worm, Fish, Frog, 

 Bird, Man, Elephant), and 

 ■similarly let the perpendicu- 

 lars to C D represent the rate 

 of multiplication of the same 

 forms ; the curves joining 

 these two series of points 

 respectively illustrate by their 

 inverted symmetry the inverse 

 ratio of individuation and 

 genesis. 



