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darwin and modern science-第171章

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 anatomical and physiological conditions under which; in appropriate circumstances; the organism so behaves。  So far the term 〃instinctive〃 has a restricted biological connotation in terms of behaviour。  But the connecting link between biological evolution and psychological evolution is to be sought;as Darwin fully realised;in the phenomena of instinct; broadly considered。  The term 〃instinctive〃 has also a psychological connotation。  What is that connotation?

Let us take the case of the swimming duckling or the pecking chick; and fix our attention on the first instinctive performance。  Grant that just as there is; strictly speaking; no inherited behaviour; but only the conditions which render such behaviour under appropriate circumstances possible; so too there is no inherited experience; but only the conditions which render such experience possible; then the cerebral conditions in both cases are the same。  The biological behaviour…complex; including the total stimulation and the total response with the intervening or resultant processes in the sensorium; is accompanied by an experience…complex including the initial stimulation…consciousness and resulting response… consciousness。  In the experience…complex are comprised data which in psychological analysis are grouped under the headings of cognition; affective tone and conation。  But the complex is probably experienced as an unanalysed whole。  If then we use the term 〃instinctive〃 so as to comprise all congenital modes of behaviour which contribute to experience; we are in a position to grasp the view that the net result in consciousness constitutes what we may term the primary tissue of experience。  To the development of this experience each instinctive act contributes。  The nature and manner of organisation of this primary tissue of experience are dependent on inherited biological aptitudes; but they are from the outset onwards subject to secondary development dependent on acquired aptitudes。  Biological values are supplemented by psychological values in terms of satisfaction or the reverse。

In our study of instinct we have to select some particular phase of animal behaviour and isolate it so far as is possible from the life of which it is a part。  But the animal is a going concern; restlessly active in many ways。  Many instinctive performances; as Darwin pointed out (〃Origin of Species〃 (6th edition); page 206。); are serial in their nature。  But the whole of active life is a serial and coordinated business。  The particular instinctive performance is only an episode in a life…history; and every mode of behaviour is more or less closely correlated with other modes。  This coordination of behaviour is accompanied by a correlation of the modes of primary experience。  We may classify the instinctive modes of behaviour and their accompanying modes of instinctive experience under as many heads as may be convenient for our purposes of interpretation; and label them instincts of self…preservation; of pugnacity; of acquisition; the reproductive instincts; the parental instincts; and so forth。  An instinct; in this sense of the term (for example the parental instinct); may be described as a specialised part of the primary tissue of experience differentiated in relation to some definite biological end。  Under such an instinct will fall a large number of particular and often well…defined modes of behaviour; each with its own peculiar mode of experience。

It is no doubt exceedingly difficult as a matter of observation and of inference securely based thereon to distinguish what is primary from what is in part due to secondary acquisitiona fact which Darwin fully appreciated。  Animals are educable in different degrees; but where they are educable they begin to profit by experience from the first。  Only; therefore; on the occasion of the first instinctive act of a given type can the experience gained be weighed as WHOLLY primary; all subsequent performance is liable to be in some degree; sometimes more; sometimes less; modified by the acquired disposition which the initial behaviour engenders。  But the early stages of acquisition are always along the lines predetermined by instinctive differentiation。  It is the task of comparative psychology to distinguish the primary tissue of experience from its secondary and acquired modifications。  We cannot follow up the matter in further detail。  It must here suffice to suggest that this conception of instinct as a primary form of experience lends itself better to natural history treatment than Darwin's conception of an impelling force; and that it is in line with the main trend of Darwin's thought。

In a characteristic work;characteristic in wealth of detail; in closeness and fidelity of observation; in breadth of outlook; in candour and modesty;Darwin dealt with 〃The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals〃。  Sir Charles Bell in his 〃Anatomy of Expression〃 had contended that many of man's facial muscles had been specially created for the sole purpose of being instrumental in the expression of his emotions。  Darwin claimed that a natural explanation; consistent with the doctrine of evolution; could in many cases be given and would in other cases be afforded by an extension of the principles he advocated。  〃No doubt;〃 he said (〃Expression of the Emotions〃; page 13。  The passage is here somewhat condensed。); 〃as long as man and all other animals are viewed as independent creations; an effectual stop is put to our natural desire to investigate as far as possible the causes of Expression。  By this doctrine; anything and everything can be equally well explained。。。With mankind; some expressions。。。can hardly be understood; except on the belief that man once existed in a much lower and animal…like condition。  The community of certain expressions in distinct though allied species。。。is rendered somewhat more intelligible; if we believe in their descent from a common progenitor。  He who admits on general grounds that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved; will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light。〃

Darwin relied on three principles of explanation。  〃The first of these principles is; that movements which are serviceable in gratifying some desire; or in relieving some sensation; if often repeated; become so habitual that they are performed; whether or not of any service; whenever the same desire or sensation is felt; even in a very weak degree。〃  (Ibid。 page 368。)  The modes of expression which fall under this head have become instinctive through the hereditary transmission of acquired habit。  〃As far as we can judge; only a few expressive movements are learnt by each individual; that is; were consciously and voluntarily performed during the early years of life for some definite object; or in imitation of others; and then became habitual。  The far greater number of the movements of expression; and all the more important ones; are innate or inherited; and such cannot be said to depend on the will of the individual。  Nevertheless; all those included under our first principle were at first voluntarily performed for a definite object;namely; to escape some danger; to relieve some distress
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