462 DARWINISM 



manifestations of intelligence, amounting in some cases to 

 distinct acts of reasoning, in many animals, are adduced as 

 exhibiting in a much less degree the intelligence and reason 

 of man. Instances of curiosity, imitation, attention, wonder, 

 and memory are given ; while examples are also adduced 

 which may be interpreted as proving that animals exhibit 

 kindness to their fellows, or manifest pride, contempt, and 

 shame. Some are said to have the rudiments of language, 

 because they utter several different sounds, each of which has 

 a definite meaning to their fellows or to their young ; others 

 the rudiments of arithmetic, because they seem to count and 

 remember up to three, four, or even five. A sense of beauty 

 is imputed to them on account of their own bright colours or 

 the use of coloured objects in their nests ; while dogs, cats, 

 and horses are said to have imagination, because they appear 

 to be disturbed by dreams. Even some distant approach to 

 the rudiments of religion is said to be found in the deep love 

 and complete submission of a dog to his master. 1 



Turning from animals to man, it is shown that in the 

 lowest savages many of these faculties are very little advanced 

 from the condition in which they appear in the higher animals ; 

 while others, although fairly well exhibited, are yet greatly 

 inferior to the point of development they have reached in 

 civilised races. In particular, the moral sense is said to have 

 been developed from the social instincts of savages, and to 

 depend mainly on the enduring discomfort produced by any 

 action which excites the general disapproval of the tribe. 

 Thus, every act of an individual which is believed to be 

 contrary to the interests of the tribe, excites its unvarying 

 disapprobation and is held to be immoral ; while every act, on 

 the other hand, which is, as a rule, beneficial to the tribe, is 

 warmly and constantly approved, and is thus considered to 

 be right or moral. From the mental struggle, when an act 

 that would benefit self is injurious to the tribe, there arises 

 conscience ; and thus the social instincts are the foundation of 

 the moral sense and of the fundamental principles of morality. 2 



The question of the origin and nature of the moral sense 

 and of conscience is far too vast and complex to be discussed 



1 For a full discussion of all these points, see Descent of Man, chap. iii. 



2 Descent of Man, chap. iv. 



