New-York tribune., 1921-03-20

i VI myStlcal rormS. And he demands
that it should be studied or discussed
on the ground of scientific philosophy
alone.
I Head of Metapsychical Institute
From this point of view it is impor.
tant to note that DR.. Geley is the di.
rector of the International Mctapsychi
cal Institute in Paris and is we'll known
as a medical authority, as we'll as 8
scientist and scholar.
| Taking up the Darwinian hypothesis
of natural selection, Dr. Geley points
out that in order for any given modi-
fication to give to the individual or the
! species any advantage in the struggle
for life that modification must be suf-
ficiently marked to be utilizable. Once
that is granted, natural selection goes
overheard at the first example. The
bird is an evolution of the reptile. But
what advantage did the embryonic
wing, appearing by chance in the an.
cestral reptile, give to its owner? He
couldn't fly with it, and very likely it
got III his way!
The Lamarckian theory, that the
origin of the creative modification is
no. due to chance but to need, he de-
molishes with backward stroke of
the same argument. Until the evol1.
ton is complete the ancestral reptile
has no advantage over his fellows.
Furthermore, he had no need to chance
his form. Before possessing usable
wings, he could not have had an aerial
life to which to adapt himself.
Evolution an Internal Impulse
In considering the chasm which
separates the perfect insect from it's
larva, DR.. Geley sums up his case
against evolution by selection or adap-
tation:
"The whole biology of the insect pre-
sents the symbol of what evolution is.
1t proves that the essential cause of
evolution should be sought neither in
the influence of the environment nor
in the reactions of organic matter to
that environment; but in a dynamism
independent of that organic matter, d.
recting it and superior to it. 1t shows
us evolution taking place primarily by
an internal impulse entirely distinct
from surrounding influences, by pri-
mordial effort, unerring, but still mys-
terious and absolutely inexpljcable by
classical naturalism."
In discussing the physiological con-
-cept of the individual as a complex of
cells, DR.. Geley points out that moth
ing is more familiar than the function
ing of our own organism and nothing
seems more simple to the vulgar mind;
but in reality nothing is more mystic
rious. Normal function, in fact, is
just as occult" as supernormal. Birth
growth, embryonic development, main
tenance of the personality through
life, organic repair, all these are so
many insoluble enigmas if the classi-
cal concept of individuality be ac-
cepted. In order to understand all
these problems of biology, he says. it
is necessary to accept the notion of
and directing it. This dynamism domi-
mates both intrinsic and extrinsic con-
tingencies, the chemical reactions of
the organic medium and the influences
of the external environment.
The evidences of this dynamism he
finds especially marked in mediumistic
materializations which he himself has
investigated. The term ideo-plasticity
which describes this phenomenon means
the modelling of living matter by an
idea, which bears out his assertion
that behind the directing dynamism
there is directing idea. He comes
therefore to the conclusion that the
idea is no longer product of matter
but that it is the idea itself,tha lnolds
matter and gives form and attributes
to it.
"The ideoplastic materializations
demonstrate that the living being can
no longer be considered as mere cell
lular complex. 1t appears primarily as
a dynamo -psychism, and the cellular
complex which is it's body appears as
the idcoplastic product of this dynamo
psychism. Thus the formations ma
terlialized in mediumistic seances arise
from the same biological processes as
normal birth. They are neither more
nor less miraculous or supernormal;
they are equally So"
Normal an4 subnormal Physiology
The analogy which he makes between
normal and supernormal physiology ex-
tends even to details. The ectoplasm
Is linked to the medium by true UNI
bilical cord, comparable to that which