55 



with which we have met in ants, and corresponds with that 

 which is distinctive of the psychology of a child about four 

 months old. I have not, however, any evidence of sympathy, 

 which would be required to make the list of emotions identical ; 

 but sympathy may, nevertheless, be present." 1 



From these few sentences may be gained an idea of what, 

 for Romanes, constitutes the data of comparative psychology. 

 But how are such data obtainable? By the employment of 

 the historical method, 2 which Romanes adopts specifically in 

 his " Mental Evolution in Animals". 3 This historical method 

 applies, of course, to the observation of observable phenomena. 

 As psychological phenomena (except in the sphere of one's 

 own consciousness) cannot be observed, physical and physio- 

 logical phenomena must be used as substitutes, as it were. 

 The standpoint may be defined in a few words by reference to 

 a statement of C. Lloyd Morgan's: "If we accept the theory 

 of organic evolution, and accept also the view that mental or 

 psychical products are the inseparable concomitants of certain 

 organic or physiological processes, then we have a basis from 

 which to start." 4 It is to these "organic or physiological pro- 

 cesses" that Romanes, like Spencer, devotes the first several 

 chapters of his work, 5 with the object of making secure a 

 physiological, and therefore scientific basis for the deductions 

 of comparative psychology. In accordance with this, it is 

 stated that the physical basis of the mind rests in the functions 

 of the nervous system, 6 and that the "directing or centralizing 

 function of the ganglia has probably in all cases been due to 

 the principle of use combined with that of natural selection." 7 

 This physical basis under the control of physical laws, may be 

 seen to be operative in all our mental experiences, and the 

 implication throughout is that the latter, dependent as they 

 are upon their physical basis, are from moment to moment 

 determined thereby. In support of this, Romanes, in his treat- 

 ment of the question of the rise of consciousness, uses a quota- 

 tion from Herbert Spencer: "The quick succession of changes 

 in a ganglion, implying as it does, perpetual experience of 

 differences and likenesses, constitutes the raw material of con- 



2 " Mental Evolution in Animals", D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1884, 

 p. 11. 



4 C. Lloyd Morgan, "Animal Life and Intelligence", E. Arnold, London, 

 1891, p. 336. 



6 O.C. Chs. 2, 3, and 4. 



*O.C. p. 34. 



7 Ibid. 



