addressing the principle of the non-inheritance of acquired characters, darwin explains how the alterations one obtains throughout life will not disseminate to prospective progeny. those inflicted with postnatal mutilations will not pass on such disfigurements to their children. more importantly, this non-hereditary principle applies to the acquirement of skills and knowledge, rendering them entirely untransmissible to future generations. revealing his totalitarian ambition, darwin aspires to recreate human life according to his own scientific design. since acquired characteristics are non-heritable, darwin believes that permanent alterations to human nature can only materialize through genetic engineering, if a dictator should ever aspire to bring about some really permanent change in humanity, he could do it if, and only if, he knew how to alter some of the human genes, for only so could the changed quality become anchored as a fixed character of the race. darwin contemplates a genealogical revolution in both the eugenical and transhumanist sciences. such mastery of mans biological processes would empower dictators and oligarchs to an unprecedented extent.
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