Relation to Animate Nature 25 



some of them in competition with his; and their mutual 

 actions and reactions are much more interdependent than 

 those which arise in the passive creation. 



Toward the individual initiating effort of any kind, the 

 animate life around him is still part of the general world; 

 of the environment or setting in which he maintains him- 

 self, but in this part there will be not the passive acceptance 

 of such of his acts as do not directly excite it, there will 

 arise an activity against him or for him which will strongly 

 affect his achievements. The opposition of a creature of 

 similar and equal powers, may balance and neutralize his 

 particular effort, or the cooperation of that creature, doubl- 

 ing the power, may make possible things which could not be 

 done alone. So that in estimating and counting the value 

 of any intention on the part of a living being there arises 

 the need to consider the opinion and probable action of 

 others who may be interested. And even in very lowly 

 orders of beings, where no moral duty can be lodged, there 

 is a necessary consideration for others which is brought 

 about by experience. A predatory insect will resent the 

 near presence of a rival when it has prepared a trap or a 

 web — and the other, knowing the consequences of inter- 

 ference, will retire from an intrusion which would result in 

 harmful quarrel. And so too, among associates, the desire 

 to share in spoil captured, is qualified and restrained even 

 among those of little intelligence, by the knowledge that the 

 possessor will fight, and so for fear alone possession is wisely 

 allowed to be ownership. This may be seen in the conduct 

 of creatures in regard to food, in different species and under 

 diverse conditions, where intelligence is small and no ethical 



