27(3 PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART II. 



when individuals may have to dispute the possession of any 

 goods ; but such disputes exist everywhere. 



The ethical importance of private property is founded upon 

 this, that it enlarges the sphere of activity in the individual, 

 and secures his future. This enlargement of his sphere only 

 becomes important to man, because he looks into the future, 

 and wishes to protect himself against possible future evils. 

 Property can thus only belong to those who do not, like ani- 

 mals, live merely in the present, but who look forward into the 

 future. In order that property should be respected, it must 

 be distinguishable. Again, in order that it should fulfil its 

 object, property must be transferable, which is only possible if 

 the will to transfer and that of accepting it can be communi- 

 cated by intelligible signs. But all these presuppositions, 

 which constitute the essence of property, prove again the un- 

 surmountable barrier which separates the rudest nation from 

 animals. 



Though all peoples do not possess a regular common- 

 wealth, they nevertheless form a society in which there are 

 certain gradations, which ultimately develop themselves into a 

 distinction of ranks. Human society everywhere has some 

 common interest in opposition to the private interests of tho 

 individuals composing it. A common external enemy, or 

 a common misfortune by natural agencies, would suffice to 

 call forth such a common interest. One or more individuals 

 acquire authority, and are either feared or respected. Such 

 relations are wanting in no human society, and have but a dis- 

 tant resemblance to the rivalry shown among some animals, 

 and to the influence which leaders of the gregarious ani- 

 mals acquire. 



Among the social peculiarities, there is also to be mentioned 

 a specific feature, the attachment to his country, family, and 

 people, owing partly to the personal relations of individuals. 

 This attachment does not exist in animals, deficient as they 

 are in individualization : an animal can easily be separated 

 from one flock and attached to another ; whilst for man, how- 

 ever uncivilized he may be, such a separation from a locality, 

 where by language, personal intercourse, and a thousand habits 



