264 THE HORSE OF MR. VON OSTEN 



network of lies, if the facts can be explained in a satis- 

 factory manner in some other rational way. And this 

 can be done in this case. For we have seen that there 

 is another alternative, other than the theory that the 

 horse can think or the assumption that tricks have been 

 employed. 



And now, aside from the specific results obtained, 

 what is the scientific and philosophic import of the whole 

 affair ? — For one' thing, the revolution in our conception 

 of the animal mind, which had been hoped for by some, 

 and feared by others, has not taken place. But a con- 

 clusion of an opposite character is justified. If such un- 

 exampled patience and high pedagogical excellence as 

 was daily brought to bear by Mr. von Osten during the 

 course of four long years, could not bring to light the 

 slightest trace of conceptual thinking, then the old asser- 

 tion of the philosophers that the lower forms are incapable 

 of such thinking, finds corroboration in the results of 

 these experiments so far as the animal scale up to and in- 

 cluding the ungulates is concerned. For this reason the 

 tremendous effort put forth by Mr. von Osten, is not, 

 in spite of the self-deception under which he labors, lost 

 to science. If anyone has the courage to try the experi- 

 ment with the dog or the ape, the insight which we have 

 now gained will enable him to beware of one source of 

 error which hitherto has not been noticed. 



In the face of much misapprehension which has arisen, 

 I wish once more to say emphatically that the committee 

 of September 12th in no wise declared itself to be con- 

 vinced that the horse had the power of rational thinking. 

 The committee restricted itself entirely to the question 

 whether or not tricks were involved, and, intentionally 

 and rightly referred the positive investigation to a purely 



