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HERBERT SPENCER

struggle for existence punctuates the increase of
population.

In the history of mankind various aspects of the
population question are familiar. Whether we inquire
into what is known of the history of uncivilised races,
or into present-day conditions In more or less isolated
communities and even in large countries, we read the
story of population-crises—of increase in numbers
out-running the means of livelihood. Among races
in contact one often increases at a much more rapid
rate than the other, and we hear of "perils" of
various colours. Within a given race we find great
differences in the fertility of different sections or
stocks and dangerous results impending. One nation
is troubled by its teeming millions, and another by its
dwindling birth-rate. The whole question is one of
great biological interest and human importance, and
it is one to which Spencer had a very definite con-
tribution to make.

But before we consider Spencer's theory, it may be
profitable to notice what other suggestions have been
made.

(a) Malthusian.—In 1798, in his Theory of Population,
Malthus riveted the attention of all thoughtful men
by seeking to establish the induction that population
tends to outrun the means of subsistence. In its
earliest form, his thesis was that population tends to
increase in geometrical ratio, while the means of sub-
sistence increase only in arithmetical ratio. So
precise a statement cannot be justified, but Malthus
was right in insisting on the general fact that in
certain conditions and in certain stocks multiplication
tends to exceed the means of subsistence. His dis-



	HERBERT SPENCER struggle for existence punctuates the increase of population. In the history of mankind various aspects of the population question are familiar. Whether we inquire into what is known of the history of uncivilised races, or into present-day conditions In more or less isolated communities and even in large countries, we read the story of population-crises—of increase in numbers out-running the means of livelihood. Among races in contact one often increases at a much more rapid rate than the other, and we hear of "perils" of various colours. Within a given race we find great differences in the fertility of different sections or stocks and dangerous results impending. One nation is troubled by its teeming millions, and another by its dwindling birth-rate. The whole question is one of great biological interest and human importance, and it is one to which Spencer had a very definite con- tribution to make. But before we consider Spencer's theory, it may be profitable to notice what other suggestions have been made. (a) Malthusian.—In 1798, in his Theory of Population, Malthus riveted the attention of all thoughtful men by seeking to establish the induction that population tends to outrun the means of subsistence. In its earliest form, his thesis was that population tends to increase in geometrical ratio, while the means of sub- sistence increase only in arithmetical ratio. So precise a statement cannot be justified, but Malthus was right in insisting on the general fact that in certain conditions and in certain stocks multiplication tends to exceed the means of subsistence. His dis-