224 SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE ORGANISM 



that our first hypothetic statement dealing with the 

 possibility of a suspension of becoming in mechanical systems 

 offers several advantages which are not afforded by the 

 doctrine of a changing of the direction of forces. Accord- 

 ing to the latter theory entelechy would seem to be limited 

 by practically nothing except the amount of existing energy, 

 whilst, according to the former, it would be limited not only 

 by energy as such but also by pre-existing differences with 

 regard to velocities and potentials. And we do in fact see 

 that entelechy is limited and restricted in its actions to a 

 rather high degree. But I confess that the theory of 

 " turning " and thus changing the direction of forces and 

 energies must also be regarded as a possible solution of our 

 problem. In any case it would assume less than any 

 hypothesis about the real creation of energy by entelechy. 



Entelechy in Contrast to General Mechanics 



Is there any " contradiction ' : to mechanics in our two 

 statements ? Certainly, as far as the exclusiveness of 

 mechanics is concerned. Wherever there is life in the 

 universe something happens that is not present in the given 

 mechanical constellations as such : something is introduced, 

 not changing the quantitative side but changing the actuality 

 and direction of mechanical events. But I should prefer 

 to speak of a " contrast " instead of a " contradiction." 



It might seem as if there were more contrast between 

 entelechy and mechanics than there is between entelechy and 

 energetics, as far at least as the energetics of ordinary text- 

 books is concerned. For both of our formulations of the 

 possible relation between entelechy and mechanics assert that 



