The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
SOME NEW hooks.
!, ock,, on the wonders OF Life.

Darwin's Origin Of Species no DOCK
dealing with scientific questions has had
80 many readers MS we're secured by "The
Riddle Of the Universe. which Prof tRNsr
HAEcKEL published about five years ago
More than a hundred thousand copies oil
the German edition OF the exposition OF the
monistio or materialistio philosophy we're
sold within twevemonth, and the English
version met with almost equal success.
Ultimately no fewer than twelve different
TRANSACTIONS Of the volume appeared. We
d9nm 1t probable that similar reception
awaits the authors supplemental work
now published by the Harpers under the
name Of The Wonders Of Life. This Is
POPULAR study Of biological philosophy. II
viii DO remembered that "The Riddle OF the
inverse" undertook to make compre-
hensive survey of tho general questions OF
science viewed as genealogical problems
IN the light Of the monistio philosophy.
The present volume is confined to the realm
OF organic nature, that is TO say, the science
OF life II aims TO deal comprehensvely
with the general problems OF biology, in
accord with the monistio and mechanical
principles laid down by Haeokel some forty
years ago In his General Morphology,
wherein especial stress was laid on the
universally OF tho law Of substance"
and the substantial unity Of nature.
The 500 pages OF the book before us are
distributed in four sections. the first Of which
treats Of our knowledge Of life," the second
discusses the mature Of life,' the third
expounds the functions OF life,' and the
fourth reoounts the history Of life The
author begins with an attempt to answer
Pilates question: what is TRUTH and
answers, as we might expect mater1alist
10 answer, that truth is solely the outcome
OF experiences and Of conclusions reached
by a rational connection Of those expert
enoes He asserts that our knowledge is
exclusively empirical and is In no wise
due 10 the original constitution OF our
alleged -immateIial" mind. The distino-
ton between the monistic or materialistio
theory OF knowledge and the dualisdc or
Kantian theory Is brought out in the few
lines which form the conclusion OF the
first chapter. Our modern metaphysi-
clans regard the brain as Kant did 100
years ago; as a mysterious, whitish-gray.
pulpy mas, the significance Of which as
an instrument OF the mind Is very enig-
mauo and obscure. But. for modern
biology, the brain is the most wonderful
structure in nature, compound OF In
Vulnerable soul cells, OF neurona. These
have a most elaborate and exquisitely fine
structure are combined In a vast psychic
apparatus by thousands OF interacing
nerve fibrs-and are thus fitted to accom-
pish the highest mental functions.
I.
In his second chapter Haeckel defines
the monistic or materialstio theory Of
LA Ia do .la nrfar
If we first recall the salient features Of the
clualistic theory with which we are moro
familiar and which credits a human being
with possessing soul as well as body.
According To the dualistio theory. the phe-
nomena of life are wholly or partly indie
pendent Of plasm-a name given to the
material substratum OF organic beings, a
heterogeneous carbon compound In a semi
fluid condition-apd are determined by
special immateral force. the so-called
vital force" The energy of the plasm Is
alleged by tho dualists to be wholly or
partly subject 10 the immaterial vital
force which, it is assumed, controls and d.
rects tho physical and chemical forces Of
the living substance. The general regu-
larity observed in the organization Of a
living entity. and in the vital processes 1t
alton: 1t can only be explained, say the dual
lists. on the hypothesis Of the existence OF
intelligent immaterial forces. which are not
subject to the law Of substance They go on
to assert that all the various functions of
organisms have been produced by design.
tho historical evolution Tor phyletic trans
formation being directed TO n precon-
oeived ideal end, Nutrition is regarded by
bn gtrn1fgya ~ r,liCabla mir cla Of
life, not 10 be accounted for by chemical
and physical processes. Reproduction,
also. they pronounce an ineIplicable miracle,
which has no analogy in inorganic nature.
They see third inexpllcabe metaphysical
miracle in the movement of organisms,
which they say ia specifically different from
all inorganic movements. Finally, the
sensation Of organisms can only be ex-
planned, the duahsts declare. by ascribing
TO them soul an immateral immortal
being, that only dwells for a time in the
body. After death this spirit lives an in
dependent life
SO much for the current duallstic theory
OF organic life Now let us see how Prof
Haecke states the opposing monistic or
moterialistic theory. He holds. In the first
place that tho phenomena of life are mere
physical, chemical and morphological
character Of the living matter He Is
equally convinced that the energy Of the
plasm (by energy hereis meant the sum total
Of the forces which are connected with
the living natter Is subject to the general
laws Of physics and chemistry. The
obvious regularity Of the vital processes
and the organization they produce are.
in Prof Heecke!'s eyes, the outcome OF
natural evolution their physiological fac
tors (heredity and adAPtaion) are subject
10 the law OF substance. All the various
functions have been mechanically produced.
orderly structures having been created
by aptation and transmitted TO posterity
by heredity. Nutrition, far from being a
miracle is pronounced physico-chemical
process the metabolism OF which has an
analogy in inorganic catalysis. Neither
Is reproduction, in our authors view, a
miracle but a mechanical consequence OF
transgressive or redundant growth, anal
ogous to tho elective multiplication OF
crystals. Tho movement OF ORGANISING,
indeed, Is, in every form, affirmed to be
mt essentially different from the nova