CHAPTER VI 



DESTRUCTIVE RIVALRY 



Having studied thus the evidences of origin, and sur- 

 vival, of the principle of the co-operative instinct, it becomes 

 necessary to turn back once more to the primitive beginnings 

 of conduct to see what is the value of the opposing force, the 

 predatory impulse. 



Activity is visibly prompted by a variety of impulses, 

 so that conduct comes of a mixture of motives, even in the 

 highest phase, and in morally lower forms its resort to 

 aggression and to disruptive activity is instinctive and un- 

 controlled. We have observed that in very simple forms life 

 does continue under the original impulse, in which the off- 

 spring of an individual, forming a colony of similar origin 

 and volition, remain primarily in unison. We have traced 

 the course of an association in which altruistic activity per- 

 sisted even when growth in prosperity caused crowding, 

 and compelled some change of habit and provoked rivalry. 

 Another colony may continue to maintain its individual life 

 when crowding occurs, by the simple expedient of cannibal- 

 ism; or by the expulsion or desertion, or neglect, of the 

 surplus of weaklings. And this other development of con- 

 duct can also be seen successfully meeting conditions of 

 environment in such way as to maintain the race life. But 



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