CHAPTBE XI 



PSYCHOLOGICAL EVOLUTION 



PSYCHOLOGICAL evolution consists of two parts. The 

 first is intellectual, and is found in all the higher 

 animals as well as in man. The second is ethical, 

 and is exclusively human. 



Intellectual evolution, like biological evolution, is 

 due to competition between different individuals and 

 the action of selection. We probably see the first 

 germs of ethical evolution in parental affection, 

 which, among gregarious animals of sufficient intelli- 

 gence, widened into social sympathy ; and this in 

 man gave rise to the social or civic virtues. This 

 advance also appears to have been or, at any rate, 

 may have been due to selection ; and the result 

 was the emergence of what is called utilitarian 

 morality. Morality in the strict sense of the term 

 that is formal morality also appears to have 

 arisen from sympathy , but not by means of selection. 

 The long and constant use by man of formal morality 

 has made it instinctive and has thus given rise to 

 the conscience. 



How sympathy gave rise to the conscience is a 

 difficult problem, about which we know very little 

 at present ; for few people have taken up the study 



194 



