no less importance in their strange relation to the subject of ethics, can be studied to advantage[1] only in the existence of the most highly evolved societies of ants.
After all that has been written of late years about the probable value of relative experience in the long life of the ant, I suppose that few persons would venture to deny individual character to the ant. The intelligence of the little creature in meeting and overcoming difficulties of a totally new kind, and in adapting itself[2] to conditions entirely foreign to[3] its experience, proves a considerable power of independent thinking. But this at least is certain: that the ant has no individuality capable of being exercised in a purely selfish direction;—I am using the word "selfish" in its ordinary acceptation.[4] A greedy ant, a sensual ant, an ant capable of any one of the seven deadly sins,[5] or even of a small venial[6] sin, is unimaginable. Equally unimaginable, of course, a romantic ant, an ideological ant,[7] a poetical ant, or an ant inclined to metaphysical speculations. No
註
- ↑ to advantage 有利に、都合よく。
- ↑ to adapt oneself 應化する、變通を利かせる。
- ↑ foreign to 關係の無い、緣の無い。
- ↑ acceptation 世人に左うと受取られ、信ぜられ、解せられて居る——意義。
- ↑ the seven deadly sins—pride, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, avarice, sloth, 自負、忿怒、嫉妬、邪淫、貪食、貪吝、懶惰なり。
- ↑ venial—pardonable.
- ↑ ideological ideology 的な。 ideology—the science of human mind.
