1938-08-05 — Page 29

"Heredity and Politics."

By

J. B. S. Haldane, F.R.S. (Allon and Unwin. 7/8).

"Colonial Population.". By Ro- bert R., Kuczinski. (Oxford Uni- versity Press. 5/-).

HERE is in this book of Pro- charac-

T. Faris in dane ba

teristically brilliant exposition of the reasons why our recently ac- quired knowledge concerning. heredity in human beings, valuable as it is, should not be translated into "practical politics" without extreme caution.

We have learned more in the last 50 years about the way men and women inherit their physical and mental traits than in the whole of previous history, but our still scanty information little justifies the drastic measures which are being taken in the name of bioglogy in some countries.

A clear and lively account of the main principles of human genetics serves as the introduction and the text upon which Haldane bases his discussion of some of the biological doctrines which have come to be received

as common-

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, AUGUST 6, 1

1088:

SOCIAL BIOLOGY EXPLOITED

place in certain political factions. all of them doctrines of the kind which tend to became charged with that emotional quality which is the soil and fertiliser of scienti- fic error.

The principal are: that of human equality; that the "unfit should be sterilized"; that

classes are congenitally gun bain

to others; that these classes should be encouraged to reproduce more rapidly; that certain races are congenitally superior to others; that crossing between different races is harmful.

Some of these doctrines may be referred to the political attitudes current in particular countries, and it is especially interesting in regard to the last two to examine the commonly accepted theory in South Africa in the light of Hal- dane's exposition.

One of this author's virtues is his habit of making clear to the readér exactly what, biological science has ito contribute to the discussion and what is merely his personal opinion.

He invites opposition and asks

for correction where his argument is faulty, for he says. “It is only by such a dialectical method that we are likely to arrive at the truth on this very difficult question."

But notwithstanding the diffi- culty of the subject he is not heavy reading but full of wise saws and

many modern instances, and pungent remark enlivens and illu- minates his argument.

model

Quoting the American Sterilisation. Law, he gives the

the 16th century and particularly under Elizabeth, this may be at- tributed to the depletion of the feudal nobility in the Wars of the Roses.

'If not, not."

He finds the claims of the pure "It race biologists ill founded: is interesting to think," he obser- ves, apropos of the theory that the Nordic race was at its summit in' the Stone Age, that: the Nordic race, if properly purified, may

categories of the "socially inade-rise en higher than the culture

of the Stone Age" quate classes" recommended for sterilisation.

They include, (7) Blind,

"(8) Deaf.

(10) Dependent (including homeless, tramps, paupers).”

His comments on (7) (8) and (10) respectively are, "e.g. Milton, e.g. Beethoven, e.g. Jesus."

On the question of the genetic superiority of the ruling classes, where R. A. Fisher contends that the immediate cause in history of the decay of a civilisation is the degeneration or depletion of the ruling class, Haldane remarks, "If English culture decayed during

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But his most striking exposure of the irresponsible employment of biology for political ends is his reference to a paper in a biolo- gical journal by Major Eric Suchs- land on the eugenic effect of air warfare. More people are killed in the densely populated working class districts when towns are bombed, is the principal claim the gallant major.

"I cannot find this paper

humorous,” writes Haldane,, footnote, "because I have seen its principles applied by German air- men-to the improvement of the Spanish race."

He explodes á good many falla- cies, concerning race-crossing, re- ferring at some length to the ques- tion as it affects South Africa. In respect of the crossing of widely separated races such as white and black peoples he finds it impos- sible to come to any reasoned con- clusion.

Though it may be impracticable to forbid it, he thinks, and even undesirable, he reminds the rea- der that it is an irreversible pro- cess and may be disadvantageous for certain reasons, for the future of our species.

So he urges the importance for the future of the British Common- wealth of a thorough scientific study of the effects of race cross- ing.

One very important aspect of social biology which has a broad bearing on politics is that relating to the growth of populations. The European countries in general, have now good sources tion available on vital

but who knows the population of say, Ethiopia, its present state and its rate of growth in the past?

Many another colonial popula- tion is equally problematical both as to native and non-native popu- lation.

What information there is has been compiled by Dr Kuczinski, of the Department of Social Bio- logy in the University of Lon- don, who has, during the past few years, made brilliant contributions to the study of population. The volume is published under the aus- pices of the Royal Institute International Affairs.

The international importance of colonial populations, either self- ruled or under the dominion of one or other of the

18. more olitics →→ than

evident to-day

ever before. Dr. Kuczinski has gathered his data from a variety

ABARYSHON His ranks of figures

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