THE ORIGIN OF THE WILL. 443 



will, is found in the origin of the altruistic class of acts, which are 

 probably only possible to the human species. These have been 

 above defined as those in which the pleasure of the object, as dis- 

 tinct from, and therefore opposed to, that of the subject, is the 

 design of the act. This definition excludes acts for the benefit of 

 others in which the actor is also gratified, since the motive may 

 be in that case the pleasure of the subject. No doubt, many gen- 

 erous acts are of this character, but they were not such the first 

 time they were performed, since experience of their pleasurable 

 character had not then been acquired, and the evidence of all 

 past experience was of a diametrically opposite character. In 

 other words, the motives already organized in the mind of the 

 subject were all in favor of the subject. The laws of evolution 

 render the introduction of a new element of character at this point 

 absolutely necessary. It is well known that the development of 

 mind, and through it of all the acts of the first or appetent class, 

 has been due to the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain on 

 the part of the subject. The pursuit of an opposite course, by 

 animals whose pleasures and pains are those of the successful ful- 

 fillment of the necessary functions of life, or the reverse, would 

 insure their speedy extinction. Their survival has been due to 

 their prompt discrimination of favorable and unfavorable con- 

 ditions through their sensibilities, and the human species, as the 

 product of evolution, displays these sensibilities in their highest 

 form. Under these circumstances it is obvious, since none but 

 the inherited motives, with refinements due to more complex 

 circumstances, can be found in his mind, that without the inter- 

 vention of will, an altruistic act is impossible. 



It has also been pointed out that such can only be performed 

 by a being capable of the highest state of consciousness, i. e., self- 

 consciousness ; in other words, by a being capable of recognizing 

 its own mental states. Under such circumstance only can it dis- 

 tinguish the mental states of a being apart from itself, toward 

 whom the altruistic act is directed. 



It being then conceded that will is exhibited in certain human 

 actions, it becomes important to determine, if possible, the condi- 

 tions under which it appeared in the course of the evolution of 

 man. 



III. THE ELEMENTS OF MIND. 



Prior to considering the origin of states of mind, it is neces- 

 sary to go over the well-trodden field of its original constitution. 



