The endeavour to ascertain the true answer in its bearing upon the growth of the young and the welfare of family life is the object of this essay.
CHAPTER I
Physiological Laws which Influence the Physical and Mental Growth of Sex
The very gradual growth of mankind from lower to higher forms of social life, makes the study of the relation of the sexes a very complicated one; but a sure guide may be found in the great truths of physiology, viewed in their broad relation to human progress, and it is on the solid foundation of these truths that correct principles of education must be based. The tendency of our age, in seeking truth, is to reject theories and study facts—facts, however, on the largest and most comprehensive scale. Every physician knows that nothing is more stupid than routine practice; nothing more unreliable than theories unsupported by well-observed facts; and, at the same time, nothing more misleading than partial facts. The laws of the human constitution itself, as taught by the most comprehensive investigations of science, must be carefully studied. We must learn what reason, observing the facts of physiology, lays down as the true laws which should govern the relations of men and women—laws whose observance will secure the finest development of our race, and serve as a guide in directing the education of our children.
The relations of human beings to each other, depend upon the nature and requirements of individuals. It is, therefore, essential to know what the nature of the individual human being really is; how it grows and how it degenerates. Such knowledge must necessarily form the basis of all true methods of education.
We find throughout Nature, that every creature possesses its peculiar type, towards which it must tend, if it is to accomplish the purpose of its creation. There is a capacity belonging to the original germ, which, if the necessary conditions are presented, will lead it through the various stages of growth and of development, to the complete attainment of this type.
This type or pattern is the true aim of the individual. With the process by which it is reached, it constitutes its nature.
In order to determine the nature of any creature, both the type it should attain and the steps by which alone that type can be attained, must be taken into consideration, or we are led astray in our judgment of the nature of the individual. Thought is often confused by a vague use of the term ‘nature.’ The educated man is more natural than the savage, because he approaches more nearly to the true type of man, and has acquired the power of transmitting increased capacities to his children. What is popularly called a state of nature, is really a state of rudimentary life, which does not display the real nature of man, but only its imperfect condition.
Striking instances of unusual imperfection may often be observed in the physical structure of the individual, for there are blind as well as intelligent forces at work, in the long and elaborate process of forming the complete human being. Thus, sometimes we find that the developmental process of the body goes wrong, and produces six fingers instead of five through successive generations, or the formative power of some organ runs blindly into excess, producing the diseased condition of hypertrophy. Arrest of development, also, may take place at any stage of youthful life as well as before birth, the consequence being deficiency of organic power, or even defective organs, although in such cases growth and repair continue, and even long life may be attained. These conditions are not natural, because, although they exist, they are contrary to the type of man. For the same reason the cannibal must be regarded as unnatural.
In studying the individual human type, we find some points in which it resembles the lower animals, some points in which it differs from all others, and some temporary phases during which it passes from the brute type to the human. If it stop short at any stage of the regular sequence or development, it fails in its essential object, and, although living, it is unnatural.
When we seek for the distinguishing type of the human being—the type for which the slow and careful elaboration of parts is necessary—we find it in the mental, not in the physical, capacity of man. Physical power and the perfection of physical instincts are attained by the lower animals in a higher degree than by man. It is only when we observe the uses and education of which the physical powers are susceptible, and the development of which the mental powers are capable, that we perceive the immense superiority of the human race, and recognise the type—viz., the true nature of man, towards the attainment of which all the elaborate processes of growth are directed. The more carefully we examine the intellectual growth of the lower animals, tracing the reflex movements and instinctive actions of the invertebrata, through the intelligent mental operations of the dog or the elephant, the more clearly we perceive the distinguishing type of Man. This type is that union of truth and good which we name Reason. Reason is the clear perception of the true relation of things, and the love of their harmonious relations. It includes judgment, conscience—all the higher intellectual and moral qualities.