THE SURPLUS ENERGY THEORY OF PLAY. 15 



play, the source from which it springs, is to be sought 

 in instinct. It is an essential fact that the instincts 

 are constantly lurking in ambush ready to spring out 

 on the first occasion. A condition of surplus energy 

 still appears as the conditio sine qua non, that permits 

 the force of the instincts to be so augmented that final- 

 ly, when a real occasion for their use is wanting, they 

 form their own motive, and so permit indulgence in 

 merely sportive acts. Here I reach the limits of a 

 merely physiological explanation of play. But before 

 going a step further in the criticism of the overflow-of- 

 energy theory by seeking to find a standpoint which in- 

 cludes the biological significance of play, I may here 

 consider another theory which at first appears to be dia- 

 metrically opposed to that of surplus energy. I mean 

 the conception which obtains, especially in Germany, 

 that play is for recreation. Steinthal has recently 

 shown * very beautifully how recreation may be consid- 

 ered from its intrinsic significance to mean making 

 one's self over — that is, creating anew, restoring lost 

 powers, both physical and mental. Such restoration 

 can be had partially by means of sleep and nourishment. 

 But in recreative play strength is needed to win 

 strength. This idea is advanced by many. Guts 

 Muths entitles his collection of games, Games for the 

 Exercise and Eecreation of Body and Mind.f 



Schaller says that to the cultivated consciousness 

 play presents itself somewhat as follows: An occupa- 

 tion not directed to the satisfaction of simply natural 

 requirements or to the discharge of the practical busi- 



* H. Steinthal, Zu Bibel und Religionsphilosophie. Vortrfige 

 und Abhandlungen, new series, Berlin, 1895, p. 249. 

 f First edition, 1793; eighth edition, 1893. 



