150 Chapter VIII. 



anism, and has nothing to do with intelligence. Under 

 this heading falls, for instance, the manner in which 

 ants and higher animals 'learn to walk" ; indeed, heredi- 

 tary reflex mechanism is the most essential and the 

 principle element of learning even for a child that be- 

 gins to take its first steps. The motions of walking 

 are, as such, reflex activities. It is true that nerve- 

 and muscle-mechanisms work more perfectly and 

 quicker through practice. But this does not result 

 from the sensitive experience of the animal or of man, 

 but from the increased mechanical and physiological 

 functional power of the respective reflex mechanism 

 which is due to exercise. Still one psychic element 

 comes into play. The animal as well as man has an 

 instinctive impulse to use its motory mechanism. This 

 impulse includes the psychic element of so-called mus- 

 cular sensations ; and as these muscular sensations 

 actuate the instinctive impulse, the whole process 

 cannot well be called a mere reflex activity. 

 Moreover, if the motion is occasioned by the 

 sense perception of some exterior object which the 

 animal approaches or avoids, the psychic elements 

 of sensitive cognition and appetite come into play like- 

 wise; and man on coming to the use of reason is often 

 guided in his motions, as experience confirms, by in- 

 telligent knowledge, or an intelligent intention. But 

 we have no valid reasons to ascribe the latter motives 

 to animals ; nor has anyone ever thought of tracing 

 back the art of "learning how to walk" to intelligence, 

 either in animals or in man. On the other hand the 

 instinctive practice of walking is much more dependent 

 on foreign influence in man than it is in animals. At 



