Introductory. 35 



of this chaos by definitions or by any mere accura- 

 cy of statement. Accuracy in language is impossi- 

 ble while the thought is confused. And defini- 

 tions, if they do not correspond to the thing de- 

 fined, are a constant source of mischief The mind, 

 satisfied with its definition, accepts that, and too of- 

 ten ignores the facts that ought to correct the defi- 

 nition, or misinterprets them to bring them into 

 unison with some favorite system or theory. 



Is it possible then to treat of Instinct without 

 being misled by the word ? — without being bound 

 by some old definition that shall threaten us with 

 destruction when we pass its limits, as the soldier is 

 liable to be shot when he passes beyond the dead- 

 line of his prison grounds ? We will make the 

 attempt. If we use any definition of Instinct, we 

 will do it only for convenience, as we have inti- 

 mated, holding ourselves free to search for facts 

 and to give them an honest interpretation, even 

 if they force upon us a new definition at every lec- 

 ture. 



Guizot has well remarked, when defining the 

 word civilization, that it is the popular meaning of 

 this word that we must investigate ; and then adds, 

 that the common meaning of a word is much more 

 correct than the scientific meaning which has been 

 given by a few persons under the influence of a par- 

 ticular fact that has taken possession of the imagi- 

 nation. The same is true, undoubtedly, of the word 

 Instinct. It is the popular use of the word that 

 must for the present serve our purpose as a name 

 for certain phenomena as a whole, but it is Instinct 



