48 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHILD 



not clearly distinguish himself from the object 

 affecting him. Instinctive knowledge is then only 

 sensation more or less confused. The will, at this 

 stage, is nothing but an impulse urging on to a 

 blind movement, under the influence of the in- 

 stinctive feeling which makes man seek the pleas- 

 ant and avoid the painful." ("A Study of Ori- 

 gins," 251, 252.) He sums up the activities of 

 the soul in the three faculties: to know, to love, 

 to will. The infant has none of these faculties in 

 exercise. He is classified as a human being, not 

 because of the manifestation of either of these 

 or of any other faculty distinctly human, but 

 solely because of his birth from human parents 

 and the known development of other beings like 

 him. The infant has few instincts, and these in- 

 complete, but he has an enormous capacity to 

 learn. 



" The baby new to earth and sky, 



What time his tender palm is prest 

 Against the circle of the breast, 

 Has never thought that 'this is I.' 



But as he grows he gathers much, 

 And learns the use of 'I' and 'me,' 

 And finds 'I am not what I see, 



And other than the things I touch.' 



So rounds he to a separate mind 

 From whence clear memory may begin, 

 As thro' the frame that binds him in 



His isolation grows defined." 



Tennyson: In Memoriam. XLV. 



