Darwinism and Sociology

Abstract

This paper seeks to supply evidence in the direction of showing (a) that it is illegitimate to deduce the nature and degree of the innate mental capacities of a people or person from the stage of culture which either occupies; (b) that all peoples and (soundly-born) individuals appear to be equally adapted by nature to the highest level of culture existing to-day; (c) that (a) and (b) are explicable by man's essential and unique dependence on socio-historically developed and preserved material and other inventions and discoveries, and by the fact that all species are virtually stable and uniform so far as innate capacities and short periods are concerned; (d) that if (a) to (c) be granted, sociology is provided with a virtually constant unit and with a basic explanation of social statics and dynamics; and (e) that it is highly desirable that systematic investigations be instituted into the influence of the cultural environment in producing the various individual and collective cultural characteristics and achievements.