The opening of the work introduces Franze's concepts with a strong emphasis on the development of humanity as an ongoing process rather than a completed state. He argues that the current state of humanity is merely a stepping stone toward a "true" human being, which he envisions as a more perfected being akin to "demigods." To support his thesis, Franze references evolutionary theories and posits that human improvement should be pursued through conscious efforts in heredity and biology, striving for more advanced physical and mental traits. The text sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the biological underpinnings of human development, inviting readers into a discussion that merges science with philosophical inquiry about human potential and the future of mankind. (This is an automatically generated summary.)