The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-10-07

some Of the root-ideas of science, are SO
grounded on reason and fact that we
cannot but regard them as an aspect
of the very truth"
After continuing his argument that
the atomic theory impaired a unity to
all the physical sciences which had
been attained in no other way, the
president went on to say: But it may
be asked-nay, it has been asked
May not the type of our theories be
radically changed? If this question
does not merely imply certain dis
! trust in our own powers of reasoning, it
should be supported by some indica-
ton of the kind Of change which is con-
ceivable. Perhaps the chief objection
which can be brought against physical
theories is that they deal only with the
inanimate side of nature, and largely
| ignore the phenomena of life. 1t is
therefore in this direction, if in any,
| that change Of type may be expected.
I do not propose to enter at length upon
so difficult question, but, however we
may explain or explain away the char
acteristics of life, the argument for the
truth of the atomic theory would only
Dt dlltCltu IL IL COulu DC SIlOWI lIdI
living matter does not possess the Their
NAL and mechanical properties to ev-
plain which the atomic theory has been
framed This Is so VIGOROUSLY not the
case that there is the gravest doubt
whether life can In any way interfere
with the action within the organism of
the laws of matter in bulk belonging
to the domain of mechanics, physics
and chemistry. Probably the most eau
tious opinion that could now be ex-
pressed on this question is that, in
spite of some outstanding difficulties
which have recently given rise to what
is called neovitalism there is no con-
elusive evidence that living matter can
suspend or modify any of the natural
laws which would affect it If it were to
cease to live. 1t is possible that though
subject to these laws the organism
while living may be able to employ, or
even to direct, their action within itself
for its own benefit, just as it unques-
tionably does make use Of the process
es of external nature for it's own pur-
poses; but If this be so, the seat OF the
controlling influence is so withdrawn
from view that on the one hand its very
existence may be denied, while, on the
other hand. Professor Haeckel, follow
ing Vogt, has recently asserted that
matter and ether are not dead, and
only moved by extrinsic force; but they
are endowed with sensation and will;
they experience an inclination for con-
densation. a dislike for strain; they
strive after the one and struggle
against the other"
But neither improved assertions Of
this kind nor the more refined attempts
that have been made by others to bring
the phenomena of life and of dead mat
ter under common formula touch the
evidence for the atomic theory. The
question as to whether matter consists
of elements capable of independent mo-
ton is prior to and Independent of the
further questions as to what these ele-
ments are, and whether they are alive
or dead. The physicist, if he keeps TO
his business, asserts, as the bases of
the atomic theory, nothing more than
that he who declines to admit that mat
ter consists of separate moving parts
must regard many of the simplest phe-
nomena as irreconcilable and unintelli-
gible, in spite of the fact that means of
reconciling them are known to every
body, in spite of the fact that the re-
theory gives a general CORE
lation of an enormous number of phe-
nomena in every branch of science, and
thatthe outstanding difficulties are con-
nected, not SO much with the funda-
mental hypothesis that matter is com
posed Of distinguishable entities which
are capable of separate motions as with
the much more difficult problem of
what these entities are. On these
grounds the physicist may believe that
though he cannot handle or see them,
the atoms and molecules are as real as |
the ice crystals in cirrus cloud which !
he cannot reach; as real as the unseen |
members of a meteoric swarm whose /
leath-glow is lost in the sunshine, or
which sweep past us, unentangled, in |
The night. If the confidence that his |
methods are weapons with which he
IAN fight his way to the truth were
aiken from the scientific explorer, the !
paralysis which overcomes those who /
believe that they are engaged in a
hopeless task would fall upon him
ince psychologists have believed that
t is possible to master the physics and
of the framework of living
hings, and since they have abandoned
he attitude of those who placed in the
the doctrine of the vital
orce. To supporters of that doctrine,
he principle of life was not hidden
Erecting power, which could perhaps
Whisper an order that the food-gates
# reservoirs of energy should now be
pened and now closed, and could, at
he most, work only under immutable
onditions, to which the living and the
cad must alike submit On the con-
rary, their vital force pervaded the or
anism in all it's parts. 1t was an ac-
f physics and chemistry. 1t main
aimed it's own existence not by obeying,
ut by defying them; and though des-
ned to be finally overcome in the sep
rate campaigns of which each individ-
al living creature Is the scene, yet,
Ike some guerilla chieftain, 1t was de-
aated here only to reappear there with
confidence and apparently
force. This attitude OF
lind checked the advance of knowl-
dye. Difficulty could be evaded by a
erbal formula of explanation, which in
lct explained nothing. If the mechan-
al or physical or chemical causes of a ,
henomenon did not lie obviously upon ,
ne surface the investigator was ,