Of all the old school psychiatrists of standing, it seems Krafft-Ebing’s ideas are the most marked by superficial generalizations and rash guesses to account for unknown factors. In contrast to the concept of homosexuality as purely a neuro-(psycho-)pathic state, or “degenerative taint,” we will consider in the next chapter the attitude of Edward Carpenter on this subject. Carpenter is distinguished by his calm reasoning powers and far-sighted vision, and while he perhaps shows a partiality to the urning that is beyond the casual student, his views must be considered in any fair and impartial study of the subject. CHAPTER V. SUPERIOR TRAITS OF INVERTS. Edward Carpenter, in his thoughtful treatise on homosexuals--whom he calls the _Intermediate Sex_--justly maintains that it is impossible, by a sweeping gesture to dismiss these types as _good_ or _bad_, simply because they are _different_. The subtleties and complexities of nature cannot be dispatched in this off-hand manner. As he expresses it, “the great probability is that, as in any other class of human beings, there will be among these too, good and bad, high and low, worthy and unworthy--some perhaps exhibiting through their double temperament a rare and beautiful flower of humanity, others a perverse and tangled ruin.” It is Carpenter’s opinion that the defect of the male Uranian, or Urning, is not sensuality--but rather sentimentality. The lower, more ordinary types of Urning are often extremely sentimental; the superior type strangely, almost incredibly emotional; but neither _as a rule_ (though, of course, there must be exceptions) are so sensual as the average normal man. “The immense capacity of emotional love represents, of course, a great driving force. Whether in the individual or in society, love is eminently creative. It is their great genius for attachment which gives to the best Uranian types their penetrating influence and activity, and which often makes them beloved and accepted far and wide even by those who know nothing of their inner mind. “How many so-called philanthropists of the best kind (we need not mention names) have been inspired by the Uranian temperament, the world will probably never know. And in all walks of life, the great number and influence of folk of this disposition, and the distinguished place they already occupy, is only realized by those who are more or less behind the scenes. It is probable also that it is this genius for emotional love which gives to the Uranians their remarkable _youthfulness_.” With these unusual qualities, amounting in their finest expressions, to extraordinary gifts--containing as they do a double measure of human values, both of the man and of the woman--Carpenter believes that these people have a special field of work as reconcilers and interpreters of the two sexes to each other.