REASON, INSTINCT, AND REFLEX ACTION ; 



THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONS, AND THEIR PLACE IN EVOLUTION. 

 BY MR. FREDERICK ROSE, L.D.S., K.C.S., ENG. 



The great hypothesis of evolution which has revolu- 

 tionised modern thought, not only in Physical but in Social 

 Science, is regarded from four leading standpoints. 1st, there 

 are those (and their numbers are diminishing rapidly) who 

 " will have none of it," and cling to the old belief in special 

 creations for each species and genus, &c. These are, however, 

 for the most part, people who take no special interest in 

 Science, or the deductions drawn from the discoveries of 

 Science; and therefore are not likely to be members of a 

 Society like ours. 



To them I have nothing to say ; but will address my 

 remarks to those who hold one or other of the three remaining 

 views of the subject. 



The second class are those who will grant the evolution 

 of all the lower animals from still lower forms ; but claim no 

 kinship with them themselves ; and I grant at the outset of 

 my discussion that these people have considerable ground for 

 their belief, inasmuch as the " Missing Link " has not yet been 

 found. My paper will afford ample scope for our friends of 

 this school of thought to criticise and discuss. 



The third class of thinkers are those who follow Professor 

 Wallace's lines, which, put briefly, are that in the far oft' past, 

 when a Chaos became a Cosmos, and the fiery heat of the 

 earth cooled down, leaving a quiet and cool corner of the 

 universe wherein the seed of life might germinate, a number 

 of vital germs commenced their existences, and went on 

 developing in predestined lines, e.g., one would develop 

 through various lower worms into a fish ; another into a 

 mammal, and finally another into a man. Much may be said, 

 viewed in the light of our present very imperfect knowledge, 

 for this school of thought ; but, I think, in the main, they will 



