345 
active (human) will, which appears to be also described as 44 spon- 
taneous activity.” When the Monistic philosopher affirms that 
active will is at the root of all phenomena, he will doubtless 
find the religious philosopher happy to agree with him. When 
he affirms that spontaneous activity occupies this position, the 
materialistic sage will probably assent to the dogma. The 
doctrine of spontaneous activity may be expressed in the state- 
ment ; — Activity exists, and I don’t understand it. But with- 
out entangling ourselves in 46 the Monistic philosophy,” we see 
so far that the factors which are stated to produce language, are 
association + the community of feeling arising therefrom + will. 
This last is undoubtedly an essential. As a corollary from the 
previous 44 two points ” we find that : — 
III. 44 There is not only a sympathy of joy and sorrow expres- 
sing ^themselves in . . . laughter and tears, as well as in the 
impulses towards common movements, out of which dancing, 
singing, and music develop themselves later ; but there is also 
a sympathy of the will, of activity directed outwards, which only 
becomes 'phenomenally apparent in its effects .” 
Professor Noire underlines these last words, though what their 
special significance is, it is difficult to say. Doubtless there is a 
sympathy of will ; it is equally clear that this involves 44 activity 
directed outwards,” and it is if possible even more certain that 
this activity 44 only becomes phenomenally apparent in its 
effects.” It certainly has no other chance of attracting notice. 
But probably Noire merely desires to call attention to this 
obvious fact in order to prepare us for his next proposition. 
IV. 44 This common sympathetic activity was originally accom- 
panied by sounds, which, as in games and dances, broke out 
from the violent stress or excitement of the common action, 
ancl as they recurred with every repetition of the particular 
form of activity , they became so intimately associated with it 
as to acquire the power of recalling the memory of the action. 
This is the origin of human thought, for it is the origin of 
phonetic types (roots).” 
There are various other considerations referred to by Professor 
Noire in connexion with his theory, but this is the all-im- 
portant clause by which it must stand or fall, and so conse- 
quently demands the closest scrutiny. Man showed a 
sympathetic activity, and this was originally accompanied by 
sounds. Doubtless. According to the theory, these sounds were 
accidental, unpremeditated, and involuntary ; 44 they broke out 
from excitement,” — the excitement of the moment , — 44 as in 
games and dances.” Young people, playing or dancing, utter 
similar cries, the natural outcome of the action and of the 
surroundings of the situation. True. But their chance excla- 
