Veblen Instinct of Workmanship pg 13-18
Veblen pg 13-18 Instincts are inherited is the first statement of this section. People do not respond to an external stimulus in the same way. There is a makeup called the “spiritual nature” or human nature”. Veblen argues that the degree of importance or influence of each instinct in each varies as well as their interactions vary as well. He talks about instincts being secondary or emerging out of the confluence of other factors. They would vary amongst even the same race or group of people. We definitely see Veblen utilized some form of Darwinian evolution. He discusses how amongst any group of people there will be a wide variety of instincts emerging. Some may even be so out of the average that they become a threat to the community. He suggests that these extremes may be selected out over time (although this certainly seems questionable and it is unclear which characteristics he specifically views as disserviceable). Veblen then goes on to write that, “the viability of European