The Relation of Organic to Mental Evolution. 2 79 



be modified in adaptation to the special circumstances 

 symbolized in experience is in our terminology innate. 

 The special modes of response learnt through experience 

 are acquired, and this acquisition is therefore a purely 

 individual matter. 



In the merely organic phase of evolution race-progress 

 is due, either (1) to natural selection through the elimina- 

 tion of unfavourable variations ; or (2) to the direct 

 inheritance or transmission of the results of modification 

 in certain adaptive directions ; or (3) to an inherent 

 tendency of variations to occur in such adaptive directions ; 

 or (4) to some combination of these factors. 



In the conscious-organic phase of evolution, one or 

 more of these factors may be operative, either (1) in 

 augmenting the innate store of intelligent faculty, and thus 

 increasing the possibilities of individual adaptation to 

 varied conditions of life ; or (2) in stereotyping particular 

 adaptations ; or (3) in both these ways. 



Omitting further reference to the supposed inherent 

 tendency of variations to occur in adaptive directions 

 irrespective of either natural selection or individual use, 

 it is clear that our conception of the role of consciousness 

 in organic evolution is largely dependent on the answer 

 which we give to the vexed question of the inheritance of 

 acquired characters. To the consideration of this question 

 we must next proceed. 



