170 The Moralit}^ of Nature 



not appear as a higher altruism. It is a development of in- 

 tellect, to a degree which affords a higher appreciation of 

 altruism. No doubt the attainment of such intellect has 

 become possible only by a previous or simultaneous cultiva- 

 tion of altruism; for intellect is essentially a thing of gre- 

 garious life in co-ordinated effort, and such life is necessarily 

 altruistic at least in part. Yet the truest altruism may be 

 evolved by casual variation and become habitual in instinct, 

 and be practiced without a high degree of intellect. Indeed 

 in this age of reason it is observable that the purest altruistic 

 conduct, is an unreasoning triumph of instinctive conscience, 

 over those arguments of intellect which suggest selfishness. 

 The ordinary mind does not produce nor even promote 

 altruism. The tendencies of over cultivated intellect are to 

 self absorption, and to suppression of natural instincts. Nor 

 does altruism necessarily produce mind. Observe the highly 

 developed altruism of the domestic hen or the wild swallow, 

 evinced with an amazing deficiency of brain power. In- 

 tellect is inherited capacity to infer, while altruistic instinct 

 is inherited inference. 



But when mental capacity has been cultivated to the 

 degree which can appreciate, and realize in advance, the value 

 of the simultaneously growing instinctive altruism, there 

 arises a new conscious motive in conduct which may well 

 be considered the highest and most moral impulse. And it 

 seems (one must always hesitate here to claim surer knowl- 

 edge) that man is the only creature thus uplifted. While 

 all animate creation shares with him the rights and duties 

 of continued life by fitness, it seems that to mankind only 

 is it given to know or even to ask, what constitutes that 



