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Psycho-analysis has always put forward a dualistic theory of instinct. Oringinally a distinction was drawn between sexual and ego instincts; more recently, however, we have been accustomed to oppose life and death instincts, Eros and Destruction, or sexuality and aggression. The author here considers whether there has not been a corresponding change in our principle or 'criterion' of classification and answers this question in the affirmative.
If a classification is to be fruitful, preliminary scientific work is necessary before the material to be classified can be made ripe for it. A study of Freud's Three Contributions reveals that the earlier classification was based on the results obtained by the use of the psycho-analytic method. The criterion was a psycho-analytic one. In time it was seen that the sexual group had enriched itself at the expense of the ego group to such an extent that the dualistic hypothesis could only be maintained (other than nominally) by introducing a fresh principle of classification. The distinction between ego-libido and object-libido was not derived from any such principle. It marked a transitional phase whose formula might be expressed as follows: 'We wish to maintain a twofold classification of instincts, but the psycho-analytic criterion is inadequate for the purpose'.
The later division of the instincts (erotic and destructive, etc.), however, is built up on the basis of a fresh criterion. It is not quite correct to say that the only new element in this classification is the death instinct, that the sexual instincts have simply been rechristened Eros. According to the genetic criterion of the first phase, the psycho-analytic one, sadism would have belonged to the sexual group. The qualities of instinctual manifestations (including, of course, their unifying or disintegrating features) were a matter of indifference. But it is just these qualities which are of the essence of the more recent classification.
It is less easy to