Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 15.djvu/191

III.-PSYCHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF PLAY (II.). BY W. H. WINCH. VIII. PHILOSOPHY OF PLAY (i.) SURPLUS ENEEGY THEORY. " PLAYS are occasioned by the diversion into certain rela- tively definite channels of surplus, so-called 'spontaneous,' energies which have resulted from hypernutrition, but which have been given no opportunity to express themselves in activities." 1 " It is the surplus vigour in more highly developed organ- isms, exceeding what is required for immediate needs, in which play of all kinds takes its rise, manifesting itself by way of imitation or repetition of all those efforts and exer- tions which are essential to the maintenance of life." 2 This general conception seems at first so clear as to be truistic. When we have done our work we cannot play un- less we have a surplusage of energy over that which our work demanded from us. Moreover, it is within the experience of all of us, how very ready we are, when feeling well and strong, to make efforts and exertions beyond those which are essential to the main- tenance of life. I do not think it is an inadequate statement of this theory to say that play arises when we have done our work and are more abundantly fed than the work requires. But does this surplus vigour always manifest itself " by way of repetition of all those efforts and exertions which are essential to life " ? It is true that many grow so habituated to certain work that they continue it when ends external to the work itself are no longer served. This seems to be what Mr. Herbert Spencer has in view 1 Instinct and Reason, H. R. Marshall, p. 158. 2 R. Wallaschek, MIND, xvi., p. 376.