REFLEXES, LXSTINCT, AM) REASON 



44:^ 



individuals as there is with regard to other characters of the 

 species. Some power of choice is fouiul in almost every o|KTa- 

 tion c: instinct. Even tlie most macliinelike ii».stinct shows 

 some degree of a(hiptal)iHt y to new conditions. On the otiier 

 hand, in no animal chx's reason show entire frcMMloin from 

 automatism .ir reflex action. "The fundr.iiH-iual identity of 

 instinct witli intelli<>;ence/' says an ahle in\ itor, "is sli'own 



in their dependence upon the s.imc stiuctiral mechani.'^m (the 

 brain and nerves), and in their rcsjjonsive adaptai)iiity." 



r 



iWl^' 



-^:^<j:^L., 



ll... _I(t». A wild illU'k. Xiilli'ii. I;miil\ ; lu.ilc fcnnlr :»ri.l lira ctH-ml v.iwii!! 



Reason or intellect, as distin.Lniished from instinct, is the 

 choice, more or l(»ss conscious, amonix responses to external 

 impressions. Its basis, like that of instiiict. is in reflex action. 

 Its operations, often jepeated, become' similarly reflex by 

 repetition, and are known as habit. A hal>it is a voluntary 

 action repeated until it becomes reflex. It is t'»rnti;'.l!v likr 

 instinct in all its manifestations. The only evident <• 

 is in its 3ri<!;in. Instinct is inherite<l. Habit is the reac: 

 produced within the indi\idual by its own reiK-atc-ii acti*-: 

 In the varied relations of life the pure reflex action l)eeom<'s 

 inadequate. The sensorimn is ofl'ere<l a choice of res|>on 

 To choose one and to reject the othes is tlie function of \\\\v\. 

 or reason. While its excessive development in man ob - its 



close relation fo insfiuct. bofli sliadc otT bv dctrrecs into reflex 



