 Lange tries to take a middle position on the relative importance of natural talent and social environment for both the method and results of education. He grants that there probably are given differences in dispositions, but maintains that the environment has a significant influence on how these dispositions express themselves and on how students’ talents develop. He criticizes social Darwinist theories that think there is no need to pay attention to the barriers to development created by the lack of economic or social privileges (Lange 1873–75, 255; Lange 1894a, 48–49). On the other hand, he warns against an idealism that assumes fundamental human equality of ability (Knoll 1975a, 19–20).