MENTAL STATES AND PROCESSES. 113 



speech which thought possesses. A sign of some kind 

 is necessary because, since we each have both an 



that that survives which is able to survive, — this would be a mere 

 truism and a patent tautology,— or, if we take in the whole circum- 

 stances of Nature, the survival of the fittest implies some kind of 

 inherent fitness and reasonableness. Prof. Mivart writes : ' What 

 there is less reasonable and right in a Rhytina than in a Dugong, 

 or in a Dinornis than in an Apteryx, would, I think, puzzle most of 

 our zoologists to determine ; nor is it easy to see a triumph of 

 reason in the extermination of the unique flora of St. Helena by the 

 introduction of goats and rabbits.' No doubt, it is not easy to see 

 this. But need I remind Prof. Mivart that many things may be 

 true, though it is not easy to see them .? We often do what we 

 think is reasonable and right, though we seem to see nothing but 

 mischief to ourselves and others arising from our acts. Why do 

 we do this ? Because we believe in the ultimate triumph of reason 

 and right, though it may take millions of years to prove that right 

 is right. I have the same faith in Nature ; and, taking my stand on 

 this scientific faith, I believe that natural selection must in the end 

 prove rational selection, and that what has been vaguely called the 

 survival of the fittest will have to be interpreted in the end as the 

 triumph of reason, not as the mere play of chance. 



" F. Max Muller. 

 " Oxford, February 21." 



{Nature., March 15, 188S.] 



Reason and Language. 



"The kindness of Prof. Max Miiller's reply I recognize with 



pleasure, but without surprise, since those who know him know him 



to be as remarkable for his courtesy as his great learning. 



" In answer to his first question, I must say that I made a point 

 of attending his Royal Institution lecture on the day his 'Science 

 and Thought ' was published, and was greatly disappointed that 

 illness hindered my attending the others. But I immediately 

 obtained his book, and applied myself to understand what seemed 

 to me its essence, though I have not read it from cover to cover. 

 Should I have to review it, of course I shall conscientiously peruse 

 the whole of it. 



" Before replying further, it may be well to restate my position as 

 follows : — 



. " Man is an intellectual being, able to apprehend certain things 



I 



