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THE POPULATION QUESTION 267

verse ratio between individuation and genesis holds
absolutely, but each advance in individual develop-
ment implies an economy : the advantage must exceed
the cost, else it would not be perpetuated. The
organism has an augmentation of total wealth to
share between its individuation and its genesis, and
though the increment of individuation tends to pro-
duce a corresponding decrement of genesis, this latter
will be somewhat less than accurately proportionate.
In short, genesis decreases as individuation increases,
yet not quite so fast. If the species be evolving, the
advance in individuation implies a certain economy, of
which a share may go to diminish the decrement to
genesis.

Spencer then extended his hard-won generalisation
to the case of man, in which, as everyone knows,
very high individuation is associated with all but the
lowest rate of multiplication. The same antithesis
is seen on comparing different races or nations, or
even different social castes or occupations. Where
there is relatively low individuation, or where nutri-
tion is in obvious excess of expenditure required to
get it, there high multiplication prevails. Reviewing
the various possibilities of progressive human evolu-
tion, he concluded that this must take place mainly
on the psychical side. Hence the corollary that the
culture of man's psychical nature constantly tends to
diminish the rate of fertility, and pressure of popula-
tion, which Spencer regarded as the main incentive
to progress, tends to disappear as it achieves its full
effect. The acute pressure of population, with its
attendant evils, thus tends to cease as a more and
more highly individuated race busies itself with its



	THE POPULATION QUESTION 267 verse ratio between individuation and genesis holds absolutely, but each advance in individual develop- ment implies an economy : the advantage must exceed the cost, else it would not be perpetuated. The organism has an augmentation of total wealth to share between its individuation and its genesis, and though the increment of individuation tends to pro- duce a corresponding decrement of genesis, this latter will be somewhat less than accurately proportionate. In short, genesis decreases as individuation increases, yet not quite so fast. If the species be evolving, the advance in individuation implies a certain economy, of which a share may go to diminish the decrement to genesis. Spencer then extended his hard-won generalisation to the case of man, in which, as everyone knows, very high individuation is associated with all but the lowest rate of multiplication. The same antithesis is seen on comparing different races or nations, or even different social castes or occupations. Where there is relatively low individuation, or where nutri- tion is in obvious excess of expenditure required to get it, there high multiplication prevails. Reviewing the various possibilities of progressive human evolu- tion, he concluded that this must take place mainly on the psychical side. Hence the corollary that the culture of man's psychical nature constantly tends to diminish the rate of fertility, and pressure of popula- tion, which Spencer regarded as the main incentive to progress, tends to disappear as it achieves its full effect. The acute pressure of population, with its attendant evils, thus tends to cease as a more and more highly individuated race busies itself with its