Masterpieces of Science 



such past impulses with the ever-present social 

 instincts; and he then feels that sense of dis- 

 satisfaction which all unsatisfied instincts leave 

 behind them, he therefore resolves to act differ- 

 ently for the future — and this is conscience. 

 Any instinct permanently stronger or more 

 enduring than another gives rise to a feeling 

 which we express by saying that it ought to be 

 obeyed. A pointer dog if able to reflect on his 

 past conduct would say to himself, I ought (as 

 indeed we say of him) to have pointed at that 

 hare and not have yielded to the passing temp- 

 tation of hunting it. 



Social animals are impelled partly by a wish 

 to aid the members of their community in a 

 general manner, but more commonly to per- 

 form certain definite actions. Man is impelled 

 by the same general wish to aid his fellows; 

 but has few or no special instincts. He differs 

 also from the lower animals in the power of 

 expressing his desires by words, which thus 

 become a .guide to the. aid required and be- 

 stowed. The motive to give aid is likewise 

 much modified in man; it no longer consists 

 solely of a blind instinctive impulse, but is 

 much influenced by the praise or blame of his 

 fellows. The appreciation and bestowal of 

 praise and blame both rest on sympathy; and 

 this emotion, as we have seen, is one of the 

 most important elements of the social instincts. 

 Sympathy, though gained as an instinct, is 

 also much strengthened by exercise or habit. 

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