THE PROBLEM OF PATTERN 7 



description and statement of problems in certain terms; 

 moreover, the implications of such theory are vitalistic 

 rather than mechanistic. 



On the other hand, the epigenetic school in attempt- 

 ing to derive organismic pattern from the relations 

 between living protoplasm and its environment has 

 found it difficult to account for the definiteness and 

 constancy of the organismic unity and order and has 

 failed thus far to formulate any adequate conception of 

 the epigenetic origin and development of organismic 

 pattern. And finally, the vitalist recognizes and states 

 the problem clearly, but attempts to solve it by postu- 

 lating the existence of a non-mechanistic integrating 

 and ordering principle peculiar to the organism. That 

 is to say, he merely substitutes a metaphysical problem 

 for the scientific problem. In view of the fact that 

 mechanistic possibilities as regards patterns in organisms 

 are by no means exhausted the vitalistic assumptions 

 are not at present justified as anything more than 

 matters of opinion. Preformistic theory can do no 

 more than state the problem in certain terms, and epi- 

 genetic theory has not progressed very far toward a 

 solution. In view of this situation it seems necessary as 

 the first step in an attack upon the problem to under- 

 take some further analysis in the attempt at a new 

 formulation. 



The organism represents an order and unity in 

 protoplasm which is related at every point to the 

 external world. The development and evolution of 

 organismic integration are essentially the evolution of 

 mechanisms and methods of response and adjustment to 

 environmental conditions. If organismic pattern were 



