The first debt of gratitude which I have to acknowledge in completing this book is to the Trustees of Vassar College, who have authorized the publication of the series to which the book belongs, in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the college. I wish that I had a better contribution to off"er in honor of my Alma Mater. My second debt is to my colleague, Dr. Elizabeth L. Woods, who by generous sacrifice of time has read through the whole manuscript and suggested many improvements. Although the problems considered in this essay are of a technical rather than a popular character, I have tried so to present them that a reader without psychological training could follow the discussion. No topic dealt with in the book is treated in anything like an exhaustive manner. It is only fair to say, however, that if all the reading which was done in direct connection with its composition were represented in the list of references at the end, that list would be three times as long as it is. I have not aimed at a thorough presentation of the literature of my subject, but simply at an outline development of my own views. The psychological reader will miss references to Kostyleff's Le mecanisme cerebral de la pen see (Paris, 1914). The omission is intentional. The book did not appear until the framework of my theory had been erected. I have felt that any adequate discussion of the theories of others would occupy space which might better be given to the consideration of the bearing of facts on my own views.
Within these limits, the collection of references upon no topic is as full as would be necessary for the bibliography of a special research upon that topic. Doubtless there are omissions for which no excuse can be found. In one or two cases, where the literature upon a single point is very large, as for example, in the case of the function of the semicircular canals, only a few of the more important references have been given.One further comment may be made. The book throughout deals with comparative rather than with genetic psychology.I gratefully acknowledge help from a number of sources.To Professor Titchener I owe, not only my share of that genuine psychological spirit which he so successfully imparts to his pupils according to their ability, but various helpful criticisms upon the present work, about half of which he has read in manuscript. Dr. Yerkes has given me much invaluable aid in securing access to material, and has very kindly permitted me to see the proofs of his book on "The Dancing Mouse." As editor of the series he has reviewed my manuscript to its great advantage. Professors Georges Bohn and George H. Parker have showed especial courtesy in making their work accessible to me. Professor Jennings has kindly allowed the use of a number of illustrations from his book on "The Behavior of the Lower Organisms." My colleague Professor Aaron L. Treadwell has generously helped me in ways too numerous to specify. But perhaps my heaviest single obligation is to Professor I. Madison Bentley, who has read the manuscript of the entire book, and whose advice and criticism have been of the utmost benefit to every part of it. M. F. W. VASSAR COLLEGE, POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. October i, 1907.TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE DIFFICULTIES AND METHODS OF COMPARATIVE PSY-CHOLOGY PAGES i. Difficulties. 2. Methods of obtaining Facts: Anecdote. 3. Methods of obtaining Facts: Experiment. 4. Methods of Qbtaining Facts : the Ideal Method. 5. Methods of Interpreting Facts . . 1-26 CHAPTER II THE EVIDENCE OF MIND 6. Inferring Mind from Behavior. 7. Inferring Mind from Structure 27-36 CHAPTER III THE MIND OF THE SIMPLEST ANIMALS 8. The Structure and Behavior of Amreba. 9. The Mind of Amoeba. 10. The Structure and Behavior of Paramecium. 11. The Mind of Paramecium. 12. Definitions of Tropisms 37~S7 CHAPTER IV SENSORY DISCRIMINATION: METHODS OF INVESTIGATION 13. Preliminary Considerations. 14. Structure as Evidence of Discrimination. 15. Behavior as Evidence of Discrimination. 16. Evidence from Structure and Behavior Combined.
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