SHORTER NOTICES.
STUDIES IN EVOLUTION AND EUGENICS. By S. J.
Holmes, Ph.D. (George Routledge and Sons. 12e. 6d. net.)
Professor Holmes deals with the subject of eugenics and evolution in a series of twenty-six essays ; but though by this means he presents us with many different aspects of the problem, it is only at the expense of a certain continuity of exposition that he does so. He succeeds in showing how the general problems of eugenics, evolution, and birth control are formulating themselves in the minds of con- temporary biologists, and how the consequences of these problems in relation to the human race mays be faced. He begins with a general exposition of modern theories of evolution and of the controversy, which still rages, as to whether natural selection is adequate as a means of explaining the evolution of organic life, and as to what extent mutation is the parent of all biological progress. As regards the human race in particular, his interest is still mainly biological and his outlook definitely gloomy. He urges that the greatest obstacle to the biological evolution of the mind is the mind itself, and that the worse elements in society are usually the most prolific. The biological view leads also to the con- clusion that legislation rather than education is necessary to maintain the progress of the human race, though this is a question on which many moralists would no doubt disagree. -Professor Holmes quite rightly emphasizes the fact that the aim of eugenics is largely misunderstood. In the past both eugenics and birth control have been the victims of prejudice and intolerance, and the Church has always claimed final authority over them. Only gradually, with the triumph of experimental inquiry over religious prejudice, has it become possible to achieve a healthy view that may lead to a practical solution of the problems before it. Eugenics does not seek to enslave society but to preserve it ; so that, given agreement as to what is desirable or undesirable, it can proceed to carry out the instructions before it.
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