1916-17.] Darwinism and Human Civilisation. 
149 
X. — Darwinism and Human Civilisation, with special reference 
to the Origin of German Military “Kultur.” By Robert 
Munro, M.A., M.D., LL.D. 
(An Address delivered before the Royal Society of Edinburgh on March 5, 1917.) 
Natural Selection as applied to Man. 
In 1859 the scientific world was startled by the publication of Charles 
Darwin’s book on the Origin of Species , a work in which he advocated the 
doctrine that the various species of animals and plants, now inhabiting the 
globe, have been evolved by means of secondary causes from pre-existing 
and less differentiated forms of life — a process which he designated by 
the name of “Natural Selection.” This theory is founded mainly on the 
struggle for existence which all living organisms have to undergo, not only 
against their natural enemies, but the overcrowding of their own species. 
The intensity of this contest becomes apparent to any careful observer who 
takes the trouble to look beneath the surface of his environment at the 
marvellous activity of the agencies at work in producing the countless 
living organisms which now tenant the earth. The most striking feature 
of these genetic operations, besides the astonishing number of seeds, fruits, 
eggs, young animals, etc., which come so profusely into existence, but of 
which so few come to maturity, is that those who survive have apparently 
no higher purpose in life than the propagation of their own species. 
Notwithstanding the activity of the never-ending agencies by which life 
is thus kept up as a going concern, the stock of wild animals, i.e. animals 
not in a state of domestication, seldom vary from year to year. The con- 
sequence of so profusely overcrowding the environment with the offspring 
of plants and animals is the premature death of the vast majority. The 
outcome of a contest under conditions where, of the millions born, only a 
small percentage can find the means of subsistence, is “ the survival of the 
fittest,” and the early decay and death of the weakest — most of which fall 
a prey to a number of cunning animals who feed on them in all stages of 
growth. This waste of creative energy can only be defended ethically 
on the ground that the life-struggle improves the future status of the 
successful competitors. 
According to the doctrine of cosmic evolution, all the varied forms of 
organic life on the globe take their origin from the lowest known organisms, 
