144 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER V. 



Of the InfiinH of Animals — Bivifion of InflinBs — Examples of Pure 

 InJlinSl — Offuch InflinBs as can accommodate themfehes to pecu- 

 liar circumjlances andfituations — Of InftinBs improveable by obfer- 

 'uation and experience — Some remarks and concluftons from this vie-w 

 of Injlin6l, 



MANY theories have been invented with a view to explain 

 the inftinftive adions of animals ; but none of them have 

 received the general approbation of Philofophers. This want of 

 fuccefs in the inveftigation of a fubjedl fo curious and fo interefting 

 muft be owing to the operation of fome powerful caufes. Two 

 of thefe caufes appear to be a want of attention to the general 

 ©economy and manners of animals, and miftaken notions con- 

 cerning the dignity of human nature. From perufing the compofi- 

 tions of moft authors who have written upon animal inftind:, it is 

 evident, that they have chiefly derived their ideas, not from the va- 

 rious mental qualities difcoverable in different fpecies of animals, 

 but from the feelings and propenfities of their own minds. Some 

 of them, at the fame time, are fo averfe to allow brutes a participa- 

 tion of that Intelledl which man poflTeffes in fuch an eminent degree, 

 that they confider every animal adion to be the refult of pure me- 



3 chanifm. 



