XIX 

 THE NATURE OF TRADITION 



1. So far as bodily characters are concerned, we have seen 

 that we have to look for the explanation of human history 

 primarily in changes in the germinal constitution. With regard 

 to mental characters the position is different. It is evident that, 

 at least in the later stages of history, the outstanding features 

 are not correlated strictly with changes in the germinal constitu- 

 tion underlying mental faculties. To some extent, possibly to 

 a large extent, they are independent of such changes. The influ- 

 ence of the environment in the second sense has to be considered, 

 and until it has been considered we cannot arrive at any conclu- 

 sion as to the importance to be attributed to the former factor in 

 bringing these events about. What is now required, therefore, 

 is a study of the influence of the environment in the second sense. 

 It will be very briefly undertaken in this and the following chapter. 

 In this chapter we are concerned with the nature of tradition, 

 and the manner in which it is passed on, stored up, and retained. 

 In the next chapter we have to examine the influence of the various 

 factors in building up tradition. 



In Chapter II we saw that, as far as mental development is 

 concerned, the distinguishing characteristic of man is the con- 

 ceptual process of thought. Man is, of course, also possessed of 

 all the simpler mental processes there described. We have 

 here in particular to study the consequences which follow the 

 attainment to this higher level of mental process. It has already 

 been observed that the circumstances were favourable to the 

 evolution of this faculty. They also enabled the fullest use to be 

 made of it.^ In the first place the human instincts are very 

 generalized. They provide a basis for all kinds of vaguely directed 

 activities in response to vaguely discriminated impressions from 

 a large class of objects. Since it is only through the instinctive 

 faculties that the intellect gets to work, the generalized nature 



' See McDougall, Psychology, p. 171. 



