234 EVOLUTION AND MAN S PLACE IN NATURE 



do not readily find their cause in the inferior nature. 

 Nor are difficulties much modified by reference to 

 the influence of external pressure, material and social, 

 on the life of the ape. Let us assign to animals the 

 highest powers of intelligence which have been 

 traced in any case, such as those found in the dog. 

 We can readily grant to Darwin that these powers, 

 which differ much in different animals, are capable 

 of improvement. But, it is impossible to sustain 

 Darwin s inference, when he adds, There seems no 

 great improbability in complex faculties, such as the 

 higher forms of abstraction, and self-consciousness, 1 

 etc., having been evolved through the development 

 and combination of the simpler ones. 2 No great 

 improbability is a very guarded expression from a 

 careful and acute abserver. I think the improbability 

 much greater that Mr. Darwin realised. The more 

 the facts are pondered, the greater will the improba 

 bility seem. Development and combination stand 

 on different footing. Persistent use of any power will 

 develop it, and full advantage must be allowed for 

 this. But when the possibilities of combination are 

 considered, difficulties come thickly. Combinations 

 of sensory and motor apparatus are easy. These in 

 volve no more than increase in the number of fibres 

 and cells. In view of the multitudes of both in the 

 human body, this is an easy conception. But it is 

 quite otherwise when we consider the many and 

 immense differences that unquestionably do obtain 

 between the mind of the highest ape and the mind 

 of the lowest savage. Improvement of simple facul 

 ties cannot lead to complex faculties. Advance in 



1 No animal is self-conscious, above, p. 230. - Descent, p. 84. 



