710 COMPARATIVE AND GENETIC PSYCHOLOGY 



ceptual process. But in ideational process there is superimposed 

 a further environment, under the influence of which intelligent 

 procedure is itself controlled. This higher environment is con- 

 stituted by systems of knowledge, ideals of conduct, and artistic 

 conceptions. Just as intelligence, fulfilling its function of environ- 

 ment, plays down upon organic procedure, shaping it to more per- 

 fect adjustment to the circumstances of perceptual life, so does 

 reason, as environment, play down upon intelligent procedure, 

 molding it to more perfect adjustment to the conditions of idea- 

 tional life. 



According to this conception, there are superimposed upon the 

 pleasure-pain values in terms of feeling-tone, yet higher motive 

 values of a new order in terms of logical, ethical, or esthetic worth. 

 And if we attempt to translate this into physiological terms, not 

 only is there a differentiation of a control-system from the auto- 

 matic nerve-centres, there should also be a further differentiation 

 within the control-system itself, yet higher intellectual centres 

 being differentiated from those which are concerned in perceptual 

 process. 



There is, however, a further distinction which is important for 

 the comprehension of the social influence of ideational process. 

 Perceptual intelligence is, in the main, receptive and representa- 

 tive of a natural environment which takes form independently of 

 the exercise of its influence. Only in a limited degree are its pro- 

 ducts in behavior so applied as to modify and enrich that natural 

 environment. The beaver indeed constructs its dams, the bird 

 builds its nest, the spider spins its web, and so forth. Some amount 

 of choice of environment through subjective selection is possible. 

 Some products of behavior are projected on to the plane of its 

 organic or inorganic surroundings. But it is a characteristic feature 

 of ideational process that it is constantly, in an indefinitely larger 

 degree, embodying the products of its rational environment, as 

 developed in consciousness, in concrete form, so as to constitute part 

 of the physical and intellectual surroundings. Subjective selec- 

 tion is a most potent factor in human life. To an extent only fore- 

 shadowed in the animal world does man both create and select 

 his own environment of circumstance. And this is the keynote of 

 the higher human evolution as contrasted with that which obtains 

 among the lower animals. It involves a transference of evolution 

 from the organism to the social environment. 



Now if the distinction between perceptual and ideational pro- 

 cess is sound in principle, it is of fundamental importance in deal- 

 ing with the higher ranges of psychological development. In any 

 case, whether the subject be man or child, dog or monkey, it is 

 our duty to devise such methods of observation as shall enable 



