FACULTIES OF THE MIND. . 30? 



circumscribed. The social animals, on the other hand* 

 easily submit to restraint; and, under our guidance, ac- 

 quire habits essentially necessary to our comfort. 



4. On the difference between Reason and Instinct, and 

 on Man's superiority over the Brutes. After the details 

 into which we have entered respecting the organs of per- 

 ception, and their functions, and the intellectual and in- 

 stinctive powers, we consider ourselves prepared to give a 

 satisfactory solution to those questions, which have been so 

 often agitated, respecting the claims of our race to be con- 

 sidered as the lords of the earth. We profess neither to 

 be influenced by any desire to conceal the defects, or to 

 magnify the qualities of our species, nor to elevate the 

 brutes to a higher station than they were destined to occu- 

 py. We admit neither pride nor malevolence to be judges 

 in the case. 



The mysterious and unsettled opinions which prevail 

 upon this subject, probably proceed from the ambiguity of 

 the phrases employed, arising from our confounding the 

 characters of the Intellectual and Active powers, and ma- 

 king Instinct represent the operations sometimes of the one, 

 and sometimes of the other. In speaking of the faculties of 

 man, the term Reason is generally confined to express the 

 efforts of his intellectual powers ; and, with regard to what 

 are termed Instincts, many authors may be pointed out, 

 who consider him as nearly destitute of these, the qualities 

 of his reason supplying the defect. In speaking of the fa- 

 culties of brutes, the term Instinct is sometimes restricted 

 to the efforts of their active powers ; sometimes it also in- 

 cludes those of the intellect. If an observer, therefore* 

 compares the instincts of brutes, or the efforts of their ac- 

 tive powers, with the reason of man, as consisting in the 

 operations of his intellectual powers, a difference of mental 



