49 



conditioned in special nervous structures pervaded by a 

 dynamically-conditioned portion of the Unknowable Power 

 called energy." 1 



In the latter part of his 'Autobiography', Spencer adds a 

 last word on this subject, again indicating the all-importance 

 of physiological conditions as the basis of the psychological 

 and consequently of the ethical, which latter remains to be 

 considered. Spencer says: "The amount and kinds of mental 

 actions constituting consciousness vary, other things equal, 

 according to the rapidity, the quantity, the quality of the 

 blood supply, and all these vary according to the sizes and 

 proportions of the sundry organs which unite in preparing 

 blood from food and organs which circulate it, and the organs 

 which purify it from waste products." 2 Again, we are told 

 that "Men's characters must be determined in part by their 

 visceral structures." 3 "Not the quantity of mind only, but 

 the quality of mind also is in part determined by these psycho- 

 physical connections." 4 "Difference of disposition is caused 

 both directly and indirectly. Directly, the effect of imperfect 

 supply of blood to the brain is shown in reluctance to do many 

 things which require energy, and in consequent failure of duty 

 towards self and others. Indirectly there are qualitative 

 differences arising as well differences of disposition seemingly 

 consequent on inherited differences of brain, but really con- 

 sequent on differences between the blood supplies to the 

 brain." 5 "Even the recognized differences between irrita- 

 bility before dinner, and equanimity (sometimes joined with 

 generosity) after dinner suffice to show that, when flagging 

 pulsation and impoverished blood are exchanged for vigorous 

 pulsation and enriched blood, there results that change in the 

 balance of the emotions which constitutes a moral change. 

 It becomes clear that in this respect, as in other respects, the 

 mind is as deep as the viscera." 6 



(5) Pleasure and Pain. 



With the mind thus intimately dependent, according to 

 Spencer, upon the changes which take place in the physical 

 organism, it is apparently the most natural thing possible to 

 understand the development of the body and mind, together, 

 through the action of pleasure and pain. Following Alexander 



'O.C. 220. 

 2 Vol. II, p. 420. 

 8 O.C. p. 421. 

 4 Ibid. 



*O.C. p. 424. 

 O.C. p. 426. 



