X.—Darwinism and Human Civilisation, with special reference to the Origin of German Military “Kultur.”

Extract

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 consequence of so profusely overcrowding the environment with the offspring of plants and animals is the premature death of the vast majority.