SECT. II.] PRIMITIVE STATE OP MAN. 291 



only be explained by its being communicated to them by the 

 white race. He found many disciples, among whom, in Ger- 

 many, we would mention Klemm 1 and Wuttke, 2 who assume 

 permanent differences between active and passive human races. 3 

 A closer examination of the peculiarities of mankind renders 

 such a division very doubtful. 



However much we may be inclined, at the first glance, to 

 lament that man in a state of nature exhibits at every stage 

 such inertness and disinclination for progress, our judgment 

 undergoes a material change on a closer investigation. It is 

 just in proportion as the higher desires are absent, that the 

 gratification of the lower propensities becomes possible, and 

 the simplicity and small extent of the conditions upon which 

 the contentment of man in a primitive state depends, render 

 his life enjoyable. His inner life, it is true, moves in a very 

 limited circle ; but it is undisturbed by that feverish desire for 

 an improvement of his condition which torments the more 

 developed man. The inner contest in man arises chiefly from 

 his desire after a higher development; it only becomes pos- 

 sible with the growth of higher desires which are not easily 

 satisfied. Thus far it is true to designate the progress to civi- 

 lization as the source of mental distress ; but we must not con- 

 clude from it that the natural state of man is the ideal of Para- 

 dise, the loss of which we have to lament; for it is only in 

 proportion as man is removed from the primitive state that his 

 physical, intellectual, and moral development is accomplished. 



Besides these two chief characters of the primitive man, 

 his perfect dependence on external media, and his indolence, 

 there is another feature, the licentiousness of his egotistical 

 desires, and the absence of steadiness and plan in all his 

 actions. Restraint and self-control are nowhere engrafted 

 upon man by nature; they must be learned, and are but 

 slowly acquired. This is shown in the intercourse with 

 others, even as we see it in children and persons brought up 



"AUge. Culturgesch." 



2 " Gesch. des Heidenthums." 



3 In a similar sense, Carus distinguishes night, day, and dawn men (Ne- 

 groes, Europeans, Mongols, and Americans). 



u2 



