202 DARWINISM STATED BY DARWIN HIMSELF. 



provement, as we see in the domestic dog compared with 

 the wolf or jackal. If it could be proved that certain 

 high mental powers, such as the formation of general 

 concepts, self -consciousness, etc., were absolutely peculiar 

 to man, which seems extremely doubtful, it is not im- 

 probable that these qualities are merely the incidental 

 results of other highly-advanced intellectual faculties ; 

 and these again mainly the result of the continued use of 

 a perfect language. At what age does the new-born 

 infant possess the power of abstraction, or become self- 

 conscious, and reflect on its own existence ? We can not 

 answer ; nor can we answer in regard to the ascending 

 organic scale. The half-art, half -instinct of language still 

 bears the stamp of its gradual evolution. The ennobling 

 belief in God is not universal with man ; and the belief 

 in spiritual agencies naturally follows from other mental 

 powers. The moral sense perhaps affords the best and 

 highest distinction between man and the lower animals ; 

 but I need say nothing on this head, as I have so lately 

 endeavored to show that the social instincts — the prime 

 principle of man's moral constitution — with the aid of 

 active intellectual powers and the effects of habit, natu- 

 rally lead to the golden rule, "As ye would that men 

 should do to you, do ye to them likewise " ; and this lies 

 at the foundation of morality. 



REGRET PECULIAR TO MAN, AND WHY. 



Descent Why does man regret, even though trying 



of Man, to banish such regret, that he has followed the 

 page ' one natural impulse rather than the other ? 

 and why does he further feel that he ought to regret his 

 conduct ? Man in this respect differs profoundly from 

 the lower animals. Nevertheless we can, I think, see 



