According to Baldwins Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology it is (1) "that which we suppose would satisfy our moral nature if we were able to attain it," or (2) "the conception by reference to which mans conduct should be regulated or to which his character should be assimilated.

" The vital part of the phenomenon is therefore the motive to which the desire owes its existence.

An individual can only be considered to have acted under the influence of an ideal, in so far as he was conscious that his sense of duty and his self-respect were involved, when he selected his line of action.

But assuming that this was the case, then the motive remains an ideal, whether there happen to be few or many situations, which appear sufficiently similar to the individual in question to bring it before his consciousness.

The improve- ment in neatness that was observed by Squire was probably due to the childrens desire to please the teachers in charge of the training.