The Principles of Biology, Volume 1 (of 2)Spencer, Herbert
Science
The Principles of Biology, Volume 1 (of 2)
Spencer, Herbert
Biology
Embryological changes force the same truth upon us. What are we to say of
the repeated cell-fissions by which in some types a blastula, or
mulberry-mass, is formed, and in other types a blastoderm? Neither these
processes nor the structures immediately resulting from them, show any
correspondences with co-existences and sequences in the environment; though
they are first steps towards the organization which is to carry on such
correspondences. Even this extremely small fulfilment of the definition is
absent in the cases of rudimentary organs, and especially those rudimentary
organs which after being partly formed are absorbed. No adjustment can be
alleged between the inner relations which these present and any outer
relations. The outer relations they refer to ceased millions of years ago.
Yet unquestionably the changes which bring about the production and
absorption of these futile structures are vital changes.
Take another class of exceptions. What are we to say of a laugh? No
correspondence, or part of a correspondence, by which inner actions are
made to balance outer actions, can be seen in it. Or again, if, while
working, an artisan whistles, the making of the sounds and the
co-ordination of ideas controlling them, cannot be said to exhibit
adjustment between certain relations of thoughts, and certain relations of
things. Such kinds of vital activities lie wholly outside of the definition
given.
But perhaps the clearest and simplest proof is yielded by contrasting
voluntary and involuntary muscular actions. Here is a hawk adapting its
changing motions to the changing motions of a pigeon, so as eventually to
strike it: the adjustment of inner relations to outer relations is
manifest. Here is a boy in an epileptic fit. Between his struggles and the
co-existences and sequences around him there is no correspondence whatever.
Yet his movements betray vitality just as much as do the movements of the
hawk. Both exhibit that principle of _activity_ which constitutes the
essential element in our conception of life.
§ 36b. Evidently, then, the preceding chapters recognize only the _form_ of
our conception of life and ignore the _body_ of it. Partly sufficing as
does the definition reached to express the one, it fails entirely to
express the other. Life displays itself in ways which conform to the
definition; but it also displays itself in many other ways. We are obliged
to admit that the element which is common to the two groups of ways is the
essential element. The essential element, then, is that special kind of
energy seen alike in the usual classes of vital actions and in those
unusual classes instanced above.
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