268 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



taken of the connection between this love of approbation and the 

 social restraints, since it plays an important part in the maintenance 

 of them, {d.) The acquisitive propensity. This, too, is a trait the 

 various degrees of which, and the relations of which to the social 

 state, have to be especially noted. The desire for property grows 

 along with the possibility of gratifying it ; and this, extremely small 

 among the lowest men, increases as social developement goes on. 

 With the advance from tribal property to family property and indi- 

 vidual property, the notion of private right of possession gains defi- 

 niteness, and the love of acquisition strengthens. Each step toward 

 an orderly social state makes larger accumulations possible, and the 

 pleasures achievable by them more sure; while the resulting encour- 

 agement to accumulate leads to increase of capital and further prog- 

 ress. This action and reaction of the sentiment and the social state, 

 should be in every case observed. 



6. The Altruistic Sentiments. Coming last, these are also highest. 

 The evolution of them in the course of civilization shows us very 

 clearly the reciprocal influences of the social unit and the social 

 organism. On the one hand, there can be no sympathy, nor any of the 

 sentiments which sympathy generates, unless there are fellow-beings 

 around. On the other hand, maintenance of union with fellow-beings 

 depends in part on the presence of sympathy, and the resulting 

 restraints on conduct. Gregariousness or sociality favors the growth 

 of sympathy ; increased sympathy conduces to closer sociality and a 

 more stable social state; and so, continuously, each increment of the 

 one makes possible a further increment of the other. Comparisons of 

 the altruistic sentiments resulting from sympathy, as exhibited in dif- 

 ferent types of men and diiferent social states, may be conveniently 

 arranged under three heads : (.) Pity, which should be observed as 

 displayed toward offspring, toward the sick and aged, and toward 

 enemies, {b.) Generosity (duly discriminated from the love of display) 

 as shown in giving ; as shown in the relinquishment of pleasures for 

 the sake of others; as shown by active efforts on others' behalf. The 

 manifestations of this sentiment, too, are to be noted in respect of 

 their range whether they are limited to relatives ; whether they ex- 

 tend only to those of the same society ; whether they extend to those 

 of other societies ; and they are also to be noted in connection with 

 the degree of providence whether they result from sudden impulses 

 obeyed without counting the cost, or go along with a clear foresight of 

 the future sacrifices entailed, {c.) Justice. This most abstract of the 

 altruistic sentiments is to be considered under aspects like those just 

 named, as vv^ell as under many other aspects how far it is shown in 

 regard to the lives of others ; how far in regard to their property, and 

 how far in regard to their various minor claims. And the compari- 

 sons of men in respect of this highest sentiment should, beyond all 

 others, be carried on along with observations on the accompanying 



