THE RELIGION OF NATURE 



of the creature that wore it; yet each has the 

 same simple utilitarian origin, modified by the 

 slow process of evolution. Cast the searchlight of 

 your mind in the same way upon the most com- 

 plicated and wonderful actions performed by in- 

 sects, fish, reptiles, birds, beasts, or (in most 

 cases) man; and you discover the same evidence 

 of simple utilitarian origin, modified by evolution. 



It is difficult, however, to realize that habits of 

 mind are as directly the result of natural evolu- 

 tion as are the features of the body. 



Many of us, for instance, are apt to think that 

 because a dog seems to exhibit symptoms of 

 shame, gladness, remorse, gratitude, etc., similar 

 to those shown by human beings, this proves that 

 a dog has the same consciousness of these emo- 

 tions as we have. But it does not really prove 

 this. It merely proves that we have inherited 

 habits of action similar to those of other animals. 



Take the case of a dog exhibiting what looks 

 like shame, because in one way or another it has 

 been made to appear ridiculous or unworthy. This 

 simply means that the dog being a gregarious 

 animal by nature, descended from ancestors who 

 maintained their position in the pack by their 

 prestige automatically adopts the best course 

 to avoid more trouble when he has been humbled. 

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