ABSTRACT
AT the close of the last chapter we saw that Dr. Myers regards the antithesis between instinct and intelligence as an example of the wider antithesis between mechanism and finalism. "So far as instinctive behaviour," he says, "can be regarded from the standpoint of the individual experience of the organism, it appears, however imperfectly, as intelligent,—characterized by finalism. So far as intelligent behaviour can be regarded from the standpoint of observing the conduct of other organisms, it appears, however imperfectly, as instinctive—characterized by mechanism." Thus for him intelligence and instinct, finalism and mechanism, are equally true and valid interpretations of the same problem regarded from different standpoints. And the broader antithesis is all-embracing in its range; "for end exists not only in Life but throughout the Universe, if only we view the Universe as a huge organism." 1 (p. 217). The last sentence suggests the doctrine of panpsychism —to be briefly considered in the sequel. Our present concern is with finalism and mechanism. We will deal with finalism first.
