NATURAL SELECTION AND ENVIRONMENT 153 



the most suitable reflex actions, then by inherited ten- 

 dencies, finally by its own conscious intelligence and 

 will. The first motives are the appetites, but these are 

 succeeded by ever higher motives as the perceptions 

 become clearer and more subtile relations in environ- 

 ment are taken into account. Governed first purely by 

 appetites, the will is ever more influenced by pruden- 

 tial considerations, and finally shows well-developed 

 " natural affections." It has set its face toward un- 

 selfishness. 



Digestion and muscle, as well as mind, have per- 

 sisted in man. He is not, cannot be, disembodied 

 spirit. And in his mental life reflex action and instinct, 

 appetite and prudence, are still of great importance. 

 But the higher and supreme development of these 

 powers could never have resulted in man. They 

 might alone have produced a superior animal, never 

 man. His mammalian structure found its logical and 

 natural goal in family and social life. And even the 

 lowest goal of family life is incompatible with pure 

 selfishness, and as family life advanced to an ever 

 higher grade it became the school of unselfishness and 

 love. And social life had a similar effect. 



Moreover, man as a social being early began to 

 learn that he could claim something from his fellows, 

 and that he owed something to them. If he refused 

 to help others, they would refuse to help him. This 

 was his first, very rude lesson in rights and duties. 

 Love, duty, and right have ever since been the watch- 

 words of his development and progress. We have not 

 yet considered, and must for the present disregard, 

 the value and efficiency of religion in aiding his ad- 

 vance. At present we emphasize only the historical 



