322 NATURAL SCIENCE. May, 



the reflexes proper in this, that they are accompanied by emotions 

 in the mind, and that their performance is regulated by these 

 emotions." 



Thus, even if we exclude the extreme views of those who hold that 

 instinctive activity is due to connate ideas, and inherited knowledge, 7 

 there is a wide range of opinion on this head. 



2. Relation of Instinct to Impulse. — Professor Win. James 

 speaks 8 of "instinctive or impulsive performances." " Every instinct," 

 he says, "is an impulse," and he implies that every impulse is instinc- 

 tive. Professor Wundt and Herr Schneider 10 also regard instinctive 

 activities as prompted by impulse; the last-named author distinguishing 

 between sensation-impulses, perception-impulses, and idea-impulses. 

 But other writers use the term in a more restricted sense. Professor 

 Hoffding, though he holds 11 that "instinct is distinguished from mere 

 reflex-movement by the fact that it includes an obscure impulse of 

 feeling," also tells us 12 that " impulse [here used in the narrower 

 sense] involves a contrast between the actual and a possible or future. 

 This," he adds, " is what distinguishes it from reflex-movement and 

 instinct, where the excitation may perhaps cause a sensation, but where 

 no idea asserts itself of what must follow." Professor Baldwin dis- 

 tinguishes^ between those stimuli and the reactive consciousness 

 which, as originating mainly from within, may be called in general 

 impulsive, and those which, as originating mainly from without, may 

 be termed instinctive ; but he admits that the distinction is inexact. 



In introducing therefore into a description of instinctive activities 

 any reference to impulse, the exact sense in which this word is em- 

 ployed itself needs definition. 



3. Relation of Instinct to Intelligence and Volition. — Mr. H. 

 Spencer describes 1 ^ instinct as compound reflex-action. Although he 

 states clearly 1 ^ that " the actions we call rational are, by long- 

 continued repetition, rendered automatic and instinctive " ; yet his main 

 thesis is 16 that instincts are developed on the path of upward develop- 

 ment from reflex-action toward volitional activity. Others, who are 

 not prepared to follow Mr. Spencer in his main contention, still regard 

 instinctive actions as essentially involuntary. Such views may be 

 contrasted with the opinions of G. H. Lewes 1 " and Herr Schneider, 18 



7 " Instinct |and Acquisition." Nature, vol. xii., p. 507. Oct. 7, 1S75. The 

 passage is quoted infra, p. 325. 



8 " Principles of Psychology," vol. ii., p. 3S2. See also the passage quoted 

 infra, p. 325. 



9 Op. cit. 10 " Der Thierische Wille." 



11 " Outlines of Psychology," p. 91. 



12 Op. cit., p. 322. Cf. also H. R. Marshall's " Pain, Pleasure, and /Esthetics," 

 pp. 275-277. 



13 Feelings and Will, p. 304. 



14 '■ Principles of Psychology," ch. xii., § 194. 



15 Op. cit., § 204. 16 Op. cit., § 211. 



17 " Problems of Life and Mind." Instinct. 



18 " Der Thierische Wille." 



