INSTINCT. 



LECTURE I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



Investigations respecting the origin and destiny of man. — The central 

 question.— Conditions of human progress. — Importance of Man's 

 animal nature.— Comparative Psychology. — Potuer of Defini- 

 ' tions. — Mistake in use of formulas. — Definitions of Instinct. — 

 Vital activities to be traced.— Apparent work of Instinct.— Util- 

 izes structure and function. — Includes impulse, knowledge, skill. 

 —Natural History and Speculative Philosophy.— Man the per- 

 fection of the Vertebrate type.— Organs put to a higher use as the 

 nature of the being demands.— Mind and thotight.— Diverse phi- 

 losophical views.— Works defined.— Results to he reached.— Topics 

 for discussion, 



" What is man's origin and what is his des- 

 tiny," is the opening sentence of the course of lec- 

 tures which I had the privilege of delivering in this 

 place five years ago. This double question is still 

 perplexing the world. Science is delving in bone 

 caves, and peat bogs and lake deposits for records 

 more ancient than historic books. Every split bone 

 and fractured flint are interrogated respecting the 

 customs of the early tribes of men, whose era upon 



