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tal one。 Just as spontaneous variation is constantly pushing the animal or the plant to push out； as a vine its tendrils； in all directions； while natural conditions are as constantly exercising over it a sort of unconscious pruning power； so imagination is ever at work urging man's mind out and on； while the sentiment of the community； commonly called common sense； which simply means the point already reached by the average； is as steadily tending to keep it at its own level。 The environment helps； in the one case as in the other； to the shaping of the development。 Purely physical in the first； it is both physical and psychical in the second； the two reacting on each other。 But in either case it is only a constraining condition； not the divine impulse itself。 Precisely； then； as in the organism； this subtle spirit checked in one direction finds a way to advance in another； and produces in consequence among an originally similar set of bodies a gradual separation into species which grow wider with time； so in brain evolution a like force for like reasons tends inevitably to an ever…increasing individualization。
Now what evidence have we that this analogy holds？ Let us look at the facts； first as they present themselves subjectively。
The instinct of self…preservation； that guardian angel so persistent to appear when needed； owes its summons to another instinct no less strong； which we may call the instinct of individuality； for with the same innate tenacity with which we severally cling to life do we hold to the idea of our own identity。 It is not for the philosophic desire of preserving a very small fraction of humanity at large that we take such pains to avoid destruction； it is that we insensibly regard death as threatening to the continuance of the ego； in spite of the theories of a future life which we have so elaborately developed。 Indeed； the psychical shrinking is really the quintessence of the physical fear。 We cleave to the abstract idea closer even than to its concrete embodiment。 Sooner would we forego this earthly existence than surrender that something we know as self。 For sufficient cause we can imagine courting death； we cannot conceive of so much as exchanging our individuality for another's； still less of abandoning it altogether； for gradually a man； as he grows older； comes to regard his body as； after all； separable from himself。 It is the soul's covering； rendered indispensable by the climatic conditions of our present existence； one without which we could no longer continue to live here。 To forego it does not necessarily negative； so far as we yet know； the possibility of living elsewhere。 Some more congenial tropic may be the wandering spirit's fate。 But to part with the sense of self seems to be like taking an eternal farewell of the soul。 The Western mind shrinks before the bare idea of such a thought。
The clinging to one's own identity； then； is now an instinct； whatever it may originally have been。 It is a something we inherited from our ancestors and which we shall transmit more or less modified to our descendants。 How far back this consciousness has been felt passes the possibilities of history to determine； since the recording of it necessarily followed the fact。 All we know is that its mention is coeval with chronicle； and its origin lost in allegory。 The Bible； one of the oldest written records in the world； begins with a bit of mythology of a very significant kind。 When the Jews undertook to trace back their family tree to an idyllic garden of Eden； they mentioned as growing there beside the tree of life； another tree called the tree of knowledge。 Of what character this knowledge was is inferable from the sudden self…consciousness that followed the partaking of it。 So that if we please we may attribute directly to Eve's indiscretion the many evils of our morbid self…consciousness of the present day。 But without indulging in unchivalrous reflections we may draw certain morals from it of both immediate and ultimate applicability。
To begin with； it is a most salutary warning to the introspective； and in the second place it is a striking instance of a myth which is not a sun myth； for it is essentially of human regard； an attempt on man's part to explain that most peculiar attribute of his constitution； the all…possessing sense of self。 It looks certainly as if he was not over…proud of his person that he should have deemed its recognition occasion for the primal curse； and among early races the person is for a good deal of the personality。 What he lamented was not life but the unavoidable exertion necessary to getting his daily bread； for the question whether life were worth while was as futile then as now； and as inconceivable really as 4…dimensional space。
We are then conscious of individuality as a force within ourselves。 But our knowledge by no means ends there； for we are aware of it in the case of others as well。
About certain people there exists a subtle something which leaves its impress indelibly upon the consciousness of all who come in contact with them。 This something is a power； but a power of so indefinable a description that we beg definition by calling it simply the personality of the man。 It is not a matter of subsequent reasoning； but of direct perception。 We feel it。 Sometimes it charms us； sometimes it repels。 But we can no more be oblivious to it than we can to the temperature of the air。 Its possessor has but to enter the room； and insensibly we are conscious of a presence。 It is as if we had suddenly been placed in the field of a magnetic force。
On the other hand there are people who produce no effect upon us whatever。 They come and go with a like indifference。 They are as unimportant psychically as if they were any other portion of the furniture。 They never stir us。 We might live with them for fifty years and be hardly able to tell； for any influence upon ourselves； whether they existed or not。 They remind us of that neutral drab which certain religious sects assume to show their own irrelevancy to the world。 They are often most estimable folk； but they are no more capable of inspiring a strong emotion than the other kind are incapable of doing so。 And we say the difference is due to the personality or want of personality of the man。 Now； in what does this so…called personality consist？ Not in bodily presence simply； for men quite destitute of it possess the force in question； not in character only； for we often disapprove of a character whose attraction we are powerless to resist； not in intellect alone； for men more rational fail of stirring us as these unconsciously do。 In what； then？ In life itself； not that modicum of it； indeed； which suffices simply to keep the machine moving； but in the life principle； the power which causes psychical change； which makes the individual something distinct from all other individuals； a being capable of proving sufficient； if need be； unto himself； which shows itself； in short； as individuality。 This is not a mere restatement of the case； for individuality is an objective fact capable of being treated by physical science。 And as we know much more at present about physical facts than we do of psychological problems； we may be able to arrive the sooner at solution。
Individuality； personality； and the sense of self are only three different aspects of one and the same thing。 They are so many various views of the soul according as we regard it from an intrinsic； an altruistic； or an egoistic standpoint。 For by individuality is not meant simply the isolation in a corporeal casing of a small portion of the universal soul of mankind。 So far as mind goes； this would not be individuality at all； but the reverse。 By individuality we mean that bundle of ideas； thoughts； and daydreams which constitute our separate identity； and by virtue of which we feel each one of us at home within himself。 Now man in his mind…development is bound to become more and more distinct from his neighbor。 We can hardly conceive a progress so uniform as not to necessitate this。 It would be contrary to all we know of natural law； besides contradicting daily experience。 For each successive generation bears unmistakable testimony to the fact。 Children of the same parents are never exactly like either their parents or one another； and they often differ amazingly from both。 In such instances they revert to type； as we say； but inasmuch as the race is steadily advancing in development； such reversion must resemble that of an estate which has been greatly improved since its previous possession。 The appearance of the quality is really the sprouting of a seed whose original germ was in some sense coeval with the beginning of things。 This mind…seed takes root in some cases and not in others； according to the soil it finds。 And as certain traits develop and others do not； one man turns out very differently from his neighbor。 Such inevitable distinction implies furthermore that the man shall be sensible of it。 Consciousness is the necessary attribute of mental action。 Not only is it the sole way we have of knowing mind； without it there would be no mind to know。 Not to be conscious of one's self is； mentally spe