Chap. V. Moral Faculties. 131 



foresight of the members became improved, each man would 

 soon learn that if he aided his fellow-men, he would commonlj 

 receive aid in return. From this low motive he might acquire 

 the habit of aiding his follows ; and the habit of performing 

 benevolent actions certainly strengthens the feeling of sympathy 

 which gives the first impulse to benevolent actions. Habits, 

 noreover, followed during many generations probably tend to 

 be inherited. 



But another and much more powerful stimulus to the de- 

 velopment of the social virtues, is afforded by the praise and the 

 blame of our fellow-men. To the instinct of sympathy, as we have 

 already seen, it is primarily due, that we habitually bestow both 

 praise and blame on others, whilst we love the former and dread 

 the latter when applied to ourselves ; and this instinct no doubt 

 was originally acquired, like all the other social instincts, through 

 natural selection. At how early a period the progenitors of man 

 in the course of their development, became capable of feeling and 

 being impelled by, the praise or blame of their fellow-creatures, 

 we cannot of course say. But it appears that even dogs appre- 

 ciate encouragement, praise, and blame. The rudest savages 

 feel the sentiment of glory, as they clearly show by preserving 

 the trophies of their prowess, by their habit of excessive boasting, 

 and even by the extreme care which they take of their per- 

 sonal appearance and decorations; for unless they regarded the 

 opinion of their comrades, such habits would be senseless. 



They certainly feel shame at the broach of some of their lesser 

 rules, and apparently remorse, as shewn by the case of the 

 Australian who grew thin and could not rest from having 

 delayed to murder some other woman, so as to propitiate his dead 

 wife's spirit. Though I have not met with any other recorded 

 cttse, it is scarcely credible that a savage, who will sacrifice his 

 life rather than betray his tribe, or one who will deliver himself 

 up as a prisoner rather than break his parole,' would not 

 teel remorse in his inmost soul, if he had failed in a duty, 

 which he held sacred. 



We may therefore conclude that primeval man, at a very 

 remote period, was influenced by the praise and blame of his 

 fellows. It is obvious, that the members of the same trib,e would 

 ajiprove of conduct which appeared to them to be for the general 

 good, and would reprobate that which appeared evil. To do 

 good unto others — to do unto others as ye would they should do 

 unto you— is the foundation-stone of morality. It is, therefore, 

 liavdly possible to exaggerate the importance during rude times 



Mr. W.-iUace gives eases in of Natural Selection,' 1870, p 

 bit 'Contributions to the Theory 354. 



