Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 6.djvu/83

AN ATTEMPT AT A PSYCHOLOGY OF INSTINCT. 67 As representatives of those who distinctly recognise the active element in instinct and impulse, yet do not regard these as the primal activities of mind, we may take Bain and Sully. Sully defines instinct as " a truly active phenomenon in the shape of a semi-conscious impulse to act," l etc. And again: "We find in the element of impulse, which is so marked a constituent of instinctive action, a distinctly active element, which forms the analogue and in a sense the true genetical antecedent of the conscious pursuit of an end". 2 Bain agrees with all this, referring to instinct as " a volun- tary act in its initial form". 3 But where Sully alludes rather vaguely to its dependence upon some original spon- taneous activity, Bain gives a clear and positive account of the development of instinct from an earlier spontaneous activity and its accompanying pleasure and pain. 4 Other writers give little or no recognition to the active element in instinct. As an Herbartian, Volkmann defines impulse as " the motive force of an idea ". Instincts are "blind impulses" starting from "affectively toned excitations grounded in organic processes". "They do not originate from voluntary action," but by frequent repetition prepare the way for it. 5 Baldwin's explanation of instinct and impulse by "suggestion" seems to be really akin to Volk- mann's view, though expressed in other terms. Those who, like Lehmann, " hold expressions of feeling to be fundamental, and consider that impulsive and instinctive movements have been derived from them," 6 may be left for special consideration, under the following heading. Enough, I think, has been said to prove the need of something more nearly approaching uniformity in the use of terms, as well as the need of a more definite recognition of certain necessary differences in these terms when used by fundamentally different schools of psychology. I cannot attempt here to bring order out of this chaos. For my present purpose it is sufficient to pass two comments upon the various opinions expressed with regard to the relation of instinct to impulse and will. (1) All writers recognise an active element in instinct, either as original and voluntary activity, or as a motor discharge of some sort. 1 Sully's The Human Mind, vol. ii., p. 186. 2 Op. cit., p. 192. 3 Bain's Senses and Intellect, p. 413. 4 Op. cit., pp. 246-316. 6 Volkmann's Lehrbuch der Psychologie, sees. 143-146. 6 Lehmann 's Hauptgesetze des menschlichen Gefiihlslebens, sec. 192.