424 METAPHYSICAL EVOLUTION. 



Hyatt, Clevenger, and myself, and I have cited the evidence of 

 vertebrate paleontology as conclusively proving such an effect." * 



The object of the present paper is to pursue the question of the 

 relation of sensibility to evolution, and to consider some of the 

 consequences which it involves. It is scarcely necessary to observe 

 that, in the early stage which the subject presents at the present 

 time, I can only point out the logical conclusions derivable from 

 facts well established rather than any experimental discoveries not 

 already known. And I will say here to those who object to the 

 introduction of metaphysics into biology, that they can not logic- 

 ally exclude the subject. As in one sense a function of nervous 

 tissue, mind is one of the functions of the body. Its phenomena 

 are everywhere present in the animal kingdom. Moreover, when 

 studied in the inductive, a posteriori method, metaphysics is an 

 exact science. As Bain observes, it is a good deal easier to fore- 

 tell the actions of a man than those of the weather. It is only 

 want of familiarity with the subject which can induce a biologist 

 to exclude the science of mind from the field. 



For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the doctrine 

 of archgesthetism,f I give an outline of its implications. In the 

 first place, the hypothesis that consciousness had played a leading 

 part in evolution would seem to be negatived by the well-knoAvn 

 facts of reflex action, automatism, etc., where acts are often un- 

 consciously performed, and often performed in direct opposition 

 to present stimuli. But while it is well understood that these 

 phenomena are functions of organized structure, it is believed 

 chat the habits which they represent were inaugurated through 

 the immediate agency of consciousness. It is not believed that 

 a designed act can have been performed /or the first time J without 

 consciousness on the part of the animal of the want which the 

 act was designed to relieve or supply. This opinion accords with 

 our knowledge of ourselves, and, by irresistible inference, with our 

 belief regarding other animals. From such familiar observation 

 we also know that so soon as a movement of body or mind has 

 been acquired by repetition, consciousness need no longer accom- 

 pany the act. The act is said to be automatic when performed 



* "The Evidence for Evolution in the History of the Extinct Mammalia," Am. 

 Ass. Adv. Sci., 1883, p. 82. 



f "American Naturalist," 1882, p. 454. 



X The same view is expressed by Ribot, " Diseases of the Will," p. 38 (Humboldt 

 Libr.). 



