214 THE ORIGIN OF HUMAN REASON. 



CHAPTER V. 



REASON AND THE INFANT. 



In his eleventh chapter Mr. Romanes applies himself 

 directly to the task of endeavouring to show how in- 

 tellect is developed in the infant, from a state in which 

 that faculty is non-existent. This he calls *'the transition 

 in the individual." We have already had to consider 

 briefly and by anticipation, some statements made and 

 anecdotes given by our author in support of his view ; 

 but here we have to consider its full and complete enun- 

 ciation. From our position, as stated in our introductory 

 chapter,* it follows that we have no difficulty in under- 

 standing the fact which is patent to every one ; namely, 

 that intellect becomes gradually manifest, in what seems 

 at first but a mass of living, sentient matter — the new- 

 born infant. We, of course, affirm that it is thus 

 evolved, simply because it was potentially there from the 

 first. Mr. Romanes would probably reply that he also 

 regards it as potentially present in the infant, adding 

 that it is potentially present in the brute also. He 

 might possibly make a further distinction, and say that 

 intellect is so potentially present in the child that but 

 little is wanted to make it active and manifest, but that 

 * See above, p. 8. 



