The Relation of Organic to Mental Evolution. 277 



Turning now to the point of view from which mental 

 evolution assumes the predominant place, the analogy of 

 the captain may be pressed a little further. The develop- 

 ment of that experience on which his efficient control of 

 the vessel depends lies wholly within the sphere of his 

 consciousness. It is, of course, throughout symbolic of 

 the occurrences in the outside world or, to speak more 

 accurately, it is symbolic of those occurrences which are 

 also symbolized in our consciousness as external events. 

 The point is, however, that, no matter how close the touch 

 between the symbolism and that which it symbolizes, it is 

 as symbolism that it is developed. Symbol becomes 

 associated and correlated with symbol, and thus there 

 is evolved a symbolic system. And the laws of this 

 symbolism are the laws of mental evolution. In the 

 animal world it is under these laws that the effective 

 consciousness by which the activities are guided and 

 controlled reaches systematic development ; but it has to 

 stand its trial at the bar of practical success. In the 

 captain's mind there may be evolved a system of tactics of 

 admirable consistency, without an incongruous element in 

 the whole fabric. But will it work ? Will it stand the 

 test of an engagement ? If so, it will survive, and captain 

 and ship come out of action victorious and winners in the 

 war-struggle. If not, it will be eliminated ; captain and 

 ship will go to the bottom together. So, too, in the animal 

 there may be evolved a symbolic system of perfect self- 

 consistency. But will it avail in the struggle for existence ? 

 If so, the system and its possessor will survive to hand on 

 the good seed ; if not, animal and system suffer together 

 the stern fate of elimination. 



The nature of the relation of organic to mental evolu- 

 tion is one that we should endeavour to realize with the 

 utmost clearness. In animal life the two are so closely 



