THE NATUEE OF TRADITION 413 



every side of life which is so passed on. But the storing up of 

 ideas is not merely a matter of memory and the passing on is 

 not merely a matter of language. Rites, ceremonies, implements, 

 and so on, are themselves storehouses of ideas, and the transmis- 

 sion of the ideas therein contained, as well indeed as the ideas 

 solely retained in the memory of past generations, is accomplished 

 in large part by a process of absorption. 



This process of absorption is due to the presence of certain 

 innate tendencies. These tendencies have sometimes been grouped 

 under one head and called imitation — as, for instance, by Tarde 

 and others who have studied the process and emphasized its 

 great importance in social life. Following McDougall we may 

 distinguish three innate tendencies. By sympathy is meant that 

 the exhibition of emotional excitement on the part of the agent 

 may induce a similar emotional excitement on the part of the 

 patient. By imitation is meant that there may be a tendency for 

 the patient to assimilate his bodily movements to those of the 

 agent. Important as are these innate tendencies in facilitating 

 the transmission of customs and so on — themselves ultimately 

 the product of conceptual thought — suggestion assumes a far 

 more prominent place. 



McDougall's definition of suggestion has already been quoted. 

 According to his view it is essentially the acceptance with con- 

 viction of a proposition in the absence of logically adequate 

 grounds for its acceptance. He points out that a proposition is 

 not necessarily communicated in formal language, and further 

 distinguishes certain conditions which are favourable for the 

 communication of propositions by suggestion. Chief among these 

 are deficiency of knowledge relating to the topic in regard to which 

 the suggestion is made, imperfect organization of knowledge, and 

 the impressive character of the source from which the suggested 

 proposition is communicated. These conditions are very pro- 

 minent among children and in all primitive society. There is 

 no doubt that it is largely by virtue of suggestion that children 

 absorb the tradition of their race and time. Children have 

 little knowledge and what they have is imperfectly organized ; 

 further propositions come to them from a source which is impres- 

 sive and has prestige whether it is from parents or grown-up 

 people or from the conventions ruHng in society. Just as children 

 in modern society absorb tradition by suggestion, so do men 



