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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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actions, yet it is untenable, that in man the social<br />

instincts (including the love <strong>of</strong> praise and<br />

fear <strong>of</strong> blame) possess greater strength, or have,<br />

through long habit, acquired greater strength<br />

than the instincts <strong>of</strong> self-preservation, hunger,<br />

lust, vengeance, etc. Why then does man regret,<br />

even though trying to banish such regret, that<br />

he has followed the one natural impulse rather<br />

than the other; and why does he further feel<br />

that he ought to regret his conduct? <strong>Man</strong> in this<br />

respect differs pr<strong>of</strong>oundly from the lower animals.<br />

Nevertheless we can, I think, see with<br />

some degree <strong>of</strong> clearness the reason <strong>of</strong> this difference.<br />

<strong>Man</strong>, from the activity <strong>of</strong> his mental faculties,<br />

cannot avoid reflection: past impressions and<br />

images are incessantly and clearly passing<br />

through his mind. Now with those animals<br />

which live permanently in a body, the social<br />

instincts are ever present and persistent. Such<br />

animals are always ready to utter the danger-

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