Morals and the Evolution of Man

Morals and the Evolution of Man

the sunshine of my life in happy days, my brave comrade in the storms of the world-catastrophe, with love and gratitude I dedicate this book which helped both her and me to endure the dark years when we were homeless wanderers. A very well-known experiment in animal psychology was once made by Mbius. An aquarium was divided into two compartments by means of a pane of glass; in one of these a pike was put and in the other a tench. Hardly had the former caught sight of his prey, when he rushed to the attack without noticing the transparent partition. He crashed with extreme violence again the obstacle and was hurled back stunned, with a badly battered nose. No sooner had he recovered from the blow than he again made an onslaught upon his neighbourwith the same result. He repeated his efforts a few times more, but succeeded only in badly hurting his head and mouth. At last a dim idea dawned upon his dull mind that some unknown and invisible power was protecting the tench, and that any attempt to devour it would be in vain; consequently from that moment he ceased from all further endeavours to molest his prey. Thereupon the pane of glass was removed from the tank, and pike and tench swam[Pg 2] around together; the former took no notice whatever of his defenceless neighbour, who had become sacred to him. In the first instance the pike had not perceived the glass partition against which he had dashed his head; now he did not see that it had been taken away. All he knew was this: he must not attack this tench, otherwise he would fare badly. The pane of glass, though no longer actually there, surrounded the tench as with a coat of mail which effectually warded off the murderous attacks of the pike. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 37998
Author: Nordau, Max Simon
Release Date: Nov 12, 2011
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Lewenz, Marie Adèle, 1876-