PREFACE ix 



systems, these continuing wholes ; and that such 

 wholes, though they may not in his eyes deserve the 

 name of Individual, are yet sufficiently widespread 

 and important to merit some title of their own. 



Put in other words, the major portion of this 

 book is devoted to showing that living matter always 

 tends to group itself into these " closed, independent 

 systems with harmonious parts." Though the closure 

 is never complete, the independence never absolute, 

 the harmony never perfect, yet systems and tendency 

 alike have real existence. Such systems I personally 

 believe can be identified with the Individuals treated 

 of by the philosopher, and I have tried to establish 

 this belief. But what's in a name ? the systems are 

 there whatever we may choose to call them, and if 

 I have shown that, I shall be content. 



In conclusion, I will only hope that this little 

 book may help, however slightly, to decrease still 

 further the gap (to-day happily lessening) between 

 Science, Philosophy, and the ideas and interests of 



everyday life. 



J. S. HUXLEY. 



BALLIOL COLLEGE, 

 OXFORD. 



Sept., 1912. 



The numbers in brackets to be found in the text refer to the 

 Bibliography at the end of the book. 



An Appendix has also been added, giving some of the main con- 

 clusions in tabular form. 



