459 



ETHOLOGY. 



6. Of these, the earlier alone has been, as yet, really 

 conceived or studied as a science ; the other, Ethology, is still 

 to be created. But its creation has at length become practi 

 cable. The empirical laws, destined to verify its deductions, 

 have been formed in abundance by every successive age of 

 humanity ; and the premises for the deductions are now suffi 

 ciently complete. Excepting the degree of uncertainty which 

 still exists as to the extent of the natural differences of indi 

 vidual minds, and the physical circumstances on which these 

 may be dependent, (considerations which are of secondary 

 importance when we are considering mankind in the average, 

 or en masse,) I believe most competent judges will agree that 

 the general lawsof the different constituent elements of human 

 _nat,iire_arft even now auffiolgntly understood, to render it pp Sr 

 _sible f or a competent thinker to deduce from those laws with 

 a considerable approach to certainty, the particular type of 

 character which would be formed, in mankind generally, by 

 any assumed set of circumstances. A science_ of Ethology, 

 ^fmjpflfirl mi J|m ]Rwgof Psychology, is thereforepossiBleT 

 though little has yet been done^and thTaflTttle not at afl sy s-~ &quot; 

 tematically, towards forming it. The progress of this im 

 portant but most imperfect science will depend on a double 

 process : first, that of deducing theoretically the ethological 

 consequences of particular circumstances of position, and com 

 paring them with the recognised results of common experience ; 

 and secondly, the reverse operation ; increased study of the 

 various types of human nature that are to be found in the 

 world ; conducted by persons not only capable of analysing 

 and recording the circumstances in which these types severally 

 prevail, but also sufficiently acquainted with psychological 

 laws, to be able to explain and account for the characteristics 

 of the type,, by the peculiarities of the circumstances : the 

 residuum alone, when there proves to be any, being set down 

 to the account of congenital predispositions. 



For the experimental or d posteriori part of this process, 

 the materials are continually accumulating by the observation 

 of mankind. So far as thought is concerned, the great pro 

 blem of Ethology is to deduce the requisite middle principles 



