Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/513

 THE RA CE-PRESER VA TION DOGMA 497

increasing complexity of our mutual relations, and the corre- spondingly increasing complexity of the motives by which con- duct is regulated. That the preservation and welfare of the individual are in general the main object of his actions seems to be demonstrable a posteriori; that he is sacrificed by others for their interests is also an actual fact, caused by the selfsame egoistic motives ; but that he ought to sacrifice himself for the interests of "the race," or that others have "a right" to sacrifice him for their benefit, is more than sound reasoning would war- rant. He may, and he usually does, identify his well-being with the well-being of others, and find pleasure in sacrificing himself for their sake ; but so long as his pleasure is not so conditioned, the imposition on him of burdens that he is unwilling to bear can have but one "justification" — force.

In dealing with matters of this kind it is exceedingly diflficult to trace the line of demarcation between the somewhat arbitrary divisions of instinct and reason ; and we are liable to mistake for altruistic sentiments and race-preserving instincts what are in reality egoistic endeavors at self-gratification, and calculated schemes prompted by the desire for self-preservation and indi- vidual welfare. As the comparative study of social phenomena seems at first sight to bring into great prominence the "instinct" of reproduction, and to warrant some very common interpretations of the laws of nature in this respect, it becomes necessary to glance at some of the facts, and determine to what extent the usual conclusions are justifiable.

" Desire for offspring," says Mr. E. Westermarck in his excellent work on marriage, " is universal in mankind. Abor- tion, indeed, is practiced now and then, and infanticide fre- quently takes place among many savage peoples ; but these facts do not disprove the general rule."' That desire is attested by the observed customs of many uncivilized peoples, no less than by the laws and histories of old and modern commu- nities.

'Edward Westermarck, History of Human Marriage (London and New York, 1891), chap, xvi, p. 376. It is to be noticed that in this passage the author wisely refers to " the desire for offspring," which is a more intelligible and expressire phrase than "the instinct oi race-preservation."