54 Instinct, 



In the changes of the inorganic world we recog 

 nize no care for itself. There is nothing in itself to 

 be cared for. We see no purpose except in connec- 

 tion with life or in relation to it. And however 

 vague our notion of Instinct may be, we always rec- 

 ognize in it some purpose, and that purpose as hav- 

 ing relation to life. We may then readily recog- 

 nize operations in inorganic nature having reference 

 to plants, their preservation or growth, while there 

 is no possibility of recognizing such care in the 

 globe itself for its own sake or for the sake of any 

 of its parts. We do not see how Infinite Wisdom 

 even could devise any thing for the good of inor- 

 ganic nature or any part of it. The conditions of 

 receiving good are found only in living beings. 



But in the plant, a living being, we may recog- 

 nize a provision for itself, because in it is a life to be 

 preserved, and certain conditions are to be secured 

 for the best manifestation of that life. The plant 

 also may have relations to the animal kingdom, 

 making for it, or some portion of it, instinct-like pro- 

 visions, as inorganic nature has made for the plant. 



We have here also in the plant an entirely new 

 field of activities — those growing out of real paren- 

 tal relation. The tree has not only to provide for 

 itself but for the thousand young plantlets set free 

 in its seeds, each one fitted to become a new centre 

 of life and representative of the species. We have 

 then in the plant all those activities that secure in 

 the vegetable kingdom the same ends which in the 

 animal kingdom are usually secured by Instinct — 

 care of the individual and the production and care 



