226 Instinct, 



convenience, nearly in the sense given by Whately 

 as a blind tendency to some mode of action inde- 

 pendant of any consideration, on the part of the 

 agent, of the end to which the action leads. This 

 is as good a definition as any that has been given, 

 but it does not cover the whole ground of instinct- 

 ive action, as we have shown more than once, dur- 

 ing the course of these lectures. It is well for us 

 at this point, to enumerate all the powers or activ- 

 ities, which we have now found in the higher ani- 

 mals and man, which they have, to some degree, 

 in common. It is in this w^ay only, that we can 

 point out the true nature and sphere of Instinct in 

 both, and this we desire to do, whether we are able 

 to give a single definition which will be satisfactory 

 or not. 



1. We find Physiological agencies, by which the 

 body is built up and repaired, and provision made 

 for the reproduction of the species. These agen- 

 cies belong to the vegetative life of the animal 

 and man ; volition has no direct control in any of 

 their operations. They supply the conditions for 

 voluntary action. 



2. We find a sensitive nature, by which the ani- 

 mal is brought into relations to the world, by sen- 

 sation and sense — perception. This is the true an- 

 imal nature. 



3. We find certain reflex actions, the result of 

 stimuli acting upon the vegetative and animal na- 

 ture. They are involuntary movements required 

 for the benefit of the body — as winking, coughing, 

 sneezing, and the like. 



