Ants and Some Other Insects: An Inquiry Into the Psychic Powers of These Animals — A Reader’s Guide

The Structure of the Argument

Forel builds his case by moving from general principles to specific examples. He first establishes the need for a foundation in comparative psychology and sense-organ function, referencing his own earlier work. Then he systematically addresses the reflex-machine hypothesis, countering it with observations of ant behavior that suggest flexibility and learning. The argument proceeds through distinct realms: instinct, will, and feeling, each treated as a separate domain of psychic life. This tripartite structure allows Forel to isolate and examine different aspects of ant psychology, from automatic behaviors to emotional contagion.

Recurring Images of Struggle and Defeat

A striking pattern in the excerpts is the use of combat and defeat as windows into ant psychology. Forel describes battles between colonies where "the tenacity of the struggle and with it the will to conquer increases" until one party is overpowered. He also notes the phenomenon of "abulic dejection" after repeated failure, where ants flee from a single enemy they would have killed moments before. These images serve a dual purpose: they illustrate the presence of will and emotion, and they provide a concrete, observable basis for inferring psychic states. The victor's ability to "notice and utilise" the opponent's discouragement is presented as evidence of social cognition.

Movement Between Instinct and Individual Action

Forel carefully navigates the boundary between instinct and individual decision. He acknowledges that ant actions occur "within the confines of the instinct-precincts of the species" and that stages of a project are instinctive. Yet he insists that ants "associate and consider somewhat in a concrete way after the manner of an ant" when pursuing a goal. The text moves back and forth between describing fixed patterns and highlighting moments of plasticity, such as when an ant pursues a specific aim and "combines its instincts with this special object in view." This oscillation mirrors the tension between mechanistic and psychological explanations that drives the entire inquiry.

The Realm of Feeling as a Structural Pivot

Forel devotes a distinct section to feeling, which he introduces with a hint of self-awareness: "It may perhaps sound ludicrous to speak of feelings in insects." He then justifies the inquiry by noting how deeply instinctive human emotions are and how closely they are interwoven with impulses. This section functions as a pivot, extending the argument from will to a more subjective domain. Forel claims that emotions in ants are "so clearly" recognizable that even Uexküll would have to capitulate. The structure here mirrors the earlier pattern: a general claim, a defense against skepticism, and an implicit challenge to the reader to observe the evidence.

Readers approaching this work should attend to how Forel weaves together observational anecdotes and theoretical rebuttals. The excerpts reveal a text that is as much a polemic against mechanistic biology as it is a study of ants. Pay particular attention to the way Forel uses specific incidents—a battle, a failed return to the nest—to ground his claims about will and emotion. The structure, moving from instinct through will to feeling, is itself an argument for the layered complexity of ant psychic life.

There’s a quiet awe in watching an ant make a choice, as Forel did, and it lingers long after the book is shut. It reminds me of the patient wonder I felt in The Wonders of the Jungle, Book Two — Story, Setting & Ideas, where every small creature seems to carry its own secret purpose. I still think about that sometimes.