272 Habit and Instinct. 



evolution of the individual ; granting that its method is 

 that of a real selection in virtue of a felt congruity with 

 the mental nature of the individual that exercises its 

 power of choice ; we have next to note that the choice 

 primarily and in the first instance depends on innate 

 proclivities. In the growth of experience association plays 

 an important part. It serves to link together the data 

 given in experience. But the value of the data is inde- 

 pendent of association. In the utilization of experience, 

 choice and control come into operation. But the value 

 of the data for consciousness is rather the condition, 

 than the product, of choice. What shall be chosen and 

 what rejected depends upon the nature of the individual 

 consciousness. So far as the individual is concerned we 

 must just accept the fact that it likes some things and 

 dislikes others. As a matter of observation, it tends, on 

 the whole, to like what is good for it and dislike what is 

 bad for it. How these likes and dislikes have been 

 ingrained in the individual nature, so as to constitute 

 innate proclivities, is no doubt partially explained by the 

 obvious fact that the animal which is led by its likes and 

 dislikes to better organic adjustment to his normal sur- 

 roundings will survive to procreate his kind; while the 

 animal which is led thereby to maladjustment, will be 

 hurried to his own destruction.* The latter will perish, 

 and with him will go his fatal proclivities ; while the 

 survival of his more happily constituted neighbour will 

 lead to the survival of that neighbour's more favourable 

 likes and dislikes, which, by constant repetition of this 

 process, will become hereditary and innate. 



The direction in which the likes and dislikes tend to 

 set in the course of mental evolution is thus determined 



* It is probably to the comparative absence of natural selection among 

 civilized races that the continuance of such types as the drunkard is due. 





