226 SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE ORGANISM 



But, as many of you will know, Professor Japp 1 some years 

 ago advocated a vitalistic theory that was most markedly 

 based upon the concept of direction. That certain lower 

 organisms are able to consume or to produce only one of a 

 pair of corresponding asymmetrical chemical compounds 

 proves, according to him, that specific direction as an 

 elementally plays a fundamental part in organic life ; 

 besides those organisms only the conscious mind of the 

 chemical experimenter is able to do the same. I should not 

 like to regard the biochemical facts alluded to by Professor 

 Japp as really proving vitalism by themselves they only 

 prove a certain kind of specific statical teleology, it seems 

 to me but certainly the role of specific direction in life is 

 most clearly shown by them, and for that reason they are 

 mentioned here. 



1 " Stereochemistry and Vitalism," Report QSth Meeting Brit. Assoc. Bristol, 

 1898, p. 813. 





