176 CREATIVE EVOLUTION [chap. 



to a pure mechanism. 1 Each of these systems of explana- 

 tion triumphs in its criticism of the other, the first when 

 it shows us that instinct cannot be a mere reflex, the other 

 when it declares that instinct is something different from 

 intelligence, even fallen into unconsciousness. What can 

 this mean but that they are two symbolisms, equally 

 acceptable in certain respects, and, in other respects, 

 equally inadequate to their object? The concrete explana- 

 tion, no longer scientific, but metaphysical, must be sought 

 along quite another path, not in the direction of intelligence, 

 but in that of " sympathy." 



Instinct is sympathy. If this sympathy could extend 

 its object and also reflect upon itself, it would give us 

 the key to vital operations — just as intelligence, developed 

 and disciplined, guides us into matter. For — we cannot 

 too often repeat it — intelligence and instinct are turned 

 in opposite directions, the former towards inert matter, 

 the latter towards life. Intelligence, by means of science, 

 which is its work, will deliver up to us more and more 

 completely the secret of physical operations; of life it 

 brings us, and moreover only claims to bring us, a transla- 

 tion in terms of inertia. It goes all round life, taking from 

 outside the greatest possible number of views of it, draw- 

 ing it into itself instead of entering into it. But it is to 

 the very inwardness of life that intuition leads us — by 

 intuition I mean instinct that has become disinterested, 

 self-conscious, capable of reflecting upon its object and of 

 enlarging it indefinitely. 



That an effort of this kind is not impossible, is proved 



1 See, in particular, among recent works, Bethe, "Diirfen wir den 

 Ameisen und Bienen psychische Qualitaten zuschreiben?" (Arch. f. d. 

 ges. Physiologie, 1898), and Forel, "Un Apercu de psychologie com- 

 paree" (Annie psychologique, 1895). 



