Heredity : a psychological study of its phenomena, laws, causes, and consequences / from the French of Th. Ribot.

  • Ribot, Th. (Théodule), 1839-1916.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Heredity : a psychological study of its phenomena, laws, causes, and consequences / from the French of Th. Ribot. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    variable and indestructible ground whereon the ephemeral shadow of the individuals is thrown, and over which it flits. In all primitive civilizations, the family came more or less near to this type wherein heredity is everything and free-will nothing.^ Among the Hindus, Greeks, Romans, and Aryan peoples in general, the family was a natural community, having not only the same possessions, the same interests, the same traditions, but the same gods and the same rites. Religion was domestic, and hence Plato defines relationship to be ' a community of domestic gods.' These gods were of course worshipped by their o^vn family, in their own sanctuary, and on an altar whereon the sacred fire was ever burning. No stranger could offer sacrifice to them without sacrilege. To this necessary heredity of rites, which it was of obligation to mamtain, was added the heredity of propeity. Originally among the Hindus, property was inalienable. In many Greek cities ancient laws forbad the citizen to sell his plot of land.^ In Greece and m India succession was from male to male in order of primo- genitm-e, and only at a late period in history was any share allowed to the younger sons, or to the daughters. It is probable that pnmitive Rome in like manner accepted the law of primogeniture. It is equally instructive to notice that testaments were intro- duced at a late period, at the time when the state and the family had broken away from the immobility of inheritance, in order to give freer play to individual action. Thus, according to Fustel de Coulanges, ancient Hindu law knew nothing of testaments. The same is to be said of Athenian law prior to Solon. At Sparta testaments do not appear till after the Peloponnesian war; and at Rome they do not seem to have been in use before the laAv of the Twelve Tables. This allows to them the force of law: Uti egassit (pater familias) super pecimia tutelave sues ret, it a jus esto. The rule which subordinates the individual to heredit)', by making the conservation of property obligatory, exists in a more or less perfect form in the great families of Sweden, Nonvay, Denmark, and Scotland; also over a large portion of Germany, ^ On this subject see Fustel de Coulanges, Le Citi Antique, and Le Play, La R6formc Sociale, ch. ii. Aristotle, Folilics, ii. 4.