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here were four or five days。'' If he can not adduce similar judgments； we must never depend upon him； for things may have occurred which have so influenced his conception of time that he judges altogether falsely。
It often happens in such cases that defective estimates； made in the course of lengthy explanations； suddenly become points of reference； and then； if wrong； are the cause of mistakes。 Suppose that a witness once said that an event occurred four years ago。 Much later an estimation of the time is undertaken which shows that the hasty statement sets the event in 1893。 And then all the most important conclusions are merely argued from that。 It is best； as is customary in such cases； to test the uncertainty and incorrectness of these estimates of time on oneself。 It may be assumed that the witness； in the case in question； is likely to have made a better estimate； but it may equally be assumed that he has not done so。 In short； the conception of periods of time can not be dealt with too cautiously。
Section 84。 （e） Nature and Nurture。
Schopenhauer was the first to classify people according to nature and nurture。 Just where he first used the categories I do not know； but I know that he is responsible for them。 ‘‘Nature'' is physical and mental character and disposition； taken most broadly； ‘‘nurture'' is bringing up； environment； studies； scholarship； and experience； also in the broadest sense of those words。 Both together present what a man is； what he is able to do； what he wants to do。 A classification； then； according to nature and nurture is a classification according to essence and character。 The influence of a man's nature on his face； we know； or try to know； but what criminal relationships his nurture may develop for us； we are altogether ignorant of。 There are all sorts of intermediaries； connections and differences between what the goddess of civilization finds to prize； and what can be justified only by a return to simplicity and nature。
Section 85。 I。 _The Influence of Nurture_。
Criminologically the influence of nurture on mankind is important if it can explain the development of morality； honorableness； and love of truth。 The criminalist has to study relations； actions； and assertions； to value and to compare them when they are differentiable only in terms of the nurture of those who are responsible for them。 The most instructive works on this problem are those of Tarde；＇1＇ and Oelzelt…Newin。＇2＇ Among the older writers Leibnitz had already said； ‘‘If you leave education to me I'll change Europe in a century。'' Descartes； Locke； Helvetius assign to nurture the highest possible value while Carlyle； e。 g。； insists that civilization is a cloak in which wild human nature may eternally burn with hellish fire。 For moderns it is a half…way house。 Ribot says that training has least effect at the two extremes of humanitylittle and transitively on the idiot； much on the average man； not at all on the genius。 I might add that the circle of idiots and geniuses must be made extremely large； for average people are very few in number； and the increase in intellectual training has made no statistical difference on the curve of crime。 This is one of the conclusions arrived at by Adolf Wagner＇3＇ which corroborates the experience of practicing lawyers and we who have had； during the growth of popular education； the opportunity to make observations from the criminalistic standpoint； know nothing favorable to its influence。 If the general assertion is true that increased national education has reduced brawling； damages to property； etc。； and has increased swindling； misappropriations； etc。； we have made a great mistake。 For the psychological estimation of a criminal； the crime itself is not definitive； there is always the question as to the damage this individual has done his own nature with his deed。 If； then； a peasant lad hits his neighbor with the leg of a chair or destroys fences； or perhaps a whole village； he may still be the most honorable of youths； and later grow up into a universally respected man。 Many of the best and most useful village mayors have been guilty in their youth of brawls； damages to property； resistance to authority； and similar things。
＇1＇ G。 Tarde： La Philosophie P Compar