218 SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE ORGANISM 



molecular dimensions. Thus pure kinetics is in fact always 

 given up in the long run. 



Therefore, I think we can allow ourselves to neglect 

 kinetic mechanics l altogether, and may simply ask : What is 

 the relation of entelechy to dynamical mechanics ? 



7. ENTELECHY AND DYNAMICAL MECHANICS 2 



As entelechy is non -energetical, it certainly does not 

 change the amount of energy of a limited system in any 

 case whatever ; 3 but it might do everything that can be 



1 If in fact only motion were the cause of motion in the Inorganic, the 

 role cf entelechy in becoming in space since it has been proved not to be of 

 the inorganic type would be confined to the real creating or annihilating of 

 motion. But since kinetics is far from being the only legitimate form of 

 mechanics, we are not forced to go thus far. The modern views about the 

 electrodynamical foundation of real (not of analytical !) mechanics are 

 intentionally neglected here. 



2 In the standard work by the late L. Busse, " Geist und Korper, Seele 

 und Leib" (Leipzig, 1903), a very thorough critical discussion of all current 

 theories about the relation of "mind" and mechanics will be found. We 

 only mention here what we ourselves think to be valuable. It seems strange, 

 considering the eternal nature of the problem, but, as far as I know, our 

 first hypothesis, to be brought forward hereafter, seems never to have been 

 advocated in its present form ; it will be seen to be an application of our 

 views which were also new about entelechy as augmenting the amount 

 of diversity of distribution. 



3 Busse, Schwarz, and probably others have admitted an increase of the 

 amount of mechanical energy, when discussing the relation between "mind" 

 and matter. I should not like to go so far, unless facts really forced me to 

 do so ; though it must be conceded, that nothing unthinkable would be 

 postulated; for the "mind" (or the entelechy) would be a something that 

 is external to the system in question. Compare the last note but one. 

 The view has also been advocated occasionally that "mind" acts on 

 "matter" by disturbing so-called labile equilibria. Such equilibria are, 

 however, extremely improbable. Apart from this there would be no logical 

 argument against the "lability" theory, as the amount of energy that 

 is required in order to disturb a labile equilibrium is infinitely small (</.>), 

 and thus might be regarded as belonging to another sphere of Being. 

 Compare the important concept of "Behaftung" in K. Geissler's valuable 

 work, Das Unendliche (Leipzig, 1902) ; see in particular page 406. 



