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An interesting little book touching those questions which arise when the individual instincts cross the interests of society. The author endeavors to deal with what he calls invasive conduct, particularly alcohol and drug habituation, the gambling impulse, and the irregularities of sex relations in a way which would indicate the degree of regulation which is possible without unduly checking the spontaneity of human conduct. The book is interesting and wholesome, but fails in that depth of insight which comes from a real understanding of human motives rather than from an effort to deal with their superficial manifestations. For example, the author speaks of monogamous marriage as being maintained in large part by “artificial institutions and conventions,” as if social institutions and conventions which survive through the years could be wholly excrescences without foundation in the psychological nature of man. The author speaks of the coming of free contractural marriages in which, for example, extra-matrimonial relations may be permitted by one or the other of the parties in accordance with the terms of the contract—a rather grotesque suggestion in view of the history of the development of the marriage relation. He also suggests that bigamy, adultery, fornication, concubinage and prostitution will disappear as criminal offences and divorce become free without apparent appreciation of the value which has accrued to society from considering such conduct as criminal and treating it as such. Perhaps his prediction may come true, but it at least should be made upon a basis of an understanding of why in the past it seemed necessary to deal with such conduct as criminal.
The main criticism of the book of course from the standpoint of this