34 Heredity. 



thing. It presupposes a primitive state anterior to the habitual 

 state, and this evidently is one of the lowliest modes of mental 

 activity ; it is that minimum of intelligence of which we have 

 spoken already including in intelligence sensibility and volition, 

 which are confused together and involved in instinct. Thus, then, 

 we are again brought back to our conclusion in regard to the nature 

 of instincts. Here is need of caution ; if intelligence does not exist 

 in germ, even in the lowliest psychological act, then all the trans- 

 formations and evolutions in the world will never put it there ; or 

 we shall be the dupes of continual illusion and endless trickery, 

 which will make us suppose that we may produce from a thing 

 what was never placed in it. If we admit at the outset ever so 

 small an amount of intelligence, we may well understand how 

 the amount may afterwards have become greater. The seed may 

 easily enough become a tree, but without the seed there will be 

 no tree. Hence it is strictly necessary to qualify the hereditary 

 habit from which instincts spring by calling it a mental habit. 



In a word, according to the hypothesis which regards instincts 

 as either fixed, or as varying only within narrow limits, heredity is 

 simply conservative. 



In the hypothesis of evolution, heredity is really creative; for 

 since, without it, it is impossible for any acquired modification to 

 be transmitted, the formation of instincts, properly so called, how- 

 ever slightly complex, would be impossible. 



Both hypotheses accord equally well with our solution of the 

 nature of instinct. It matters not whether it be the minimum 

 of intelligence developed by gradual evolution, or an inferior form 

 of intelligence, invariable and for ever fixed and determined by the 

 organs. And, from our point of view, it might be said that, since 

 the heredity of instincts is established, the heredity of intelligence 

 is established partially and in advance. But this we will consider 

 more closely in another place. 



