THE ORGANIC AND THE INORGANIC 311 



concomitant segregation of energy. We see as clearly 

 as possible that the tendency of all inorganic happening 

 is the transformation of potential into kinetic energy, 

 and the equal distribution of this kinetic energy through- 

 out all the parts of the system in which the happening 

 occurred. On the other hand, the tendency of organic 

 happening is the transformation of kinetic energy into 

 potential energy, (i) in the stores of chemical com- 

 pounds which result from the metabolism of the green 

 plants, and which are capable of yielding energy again ; 

 and (2) in the results of the instinctive or intelligent 

 activities of the animal's organism. The first result of 

 organic evolution is clearly to be traced and needs no 

 further explanation, the second is apparent on reflection, 

 but is perhaps not clearly apprehended in all its signifi- 

 cance by the student of biology and physics. 



Organic evolution is the process which has had, 

 or is having, for its tendency the development of the 

 putrefactive and fermentation bacteria, the chlorophyl- 

 lian organisms, the Arthropods, and man and other 

 mammals. All that we have said has been futile if 

 this teleological description of the evolutionary pro- 

 cess has not been clearly suggested. The indefinitely 

 numerous forms of life that have appeared on the 

 earth in the past, and are now appearing, seem to be 

 experiments most of which have been unsuccessful. 

 Only in the organisms mentioned, organisms which are 

 complementary in their metabolic activities, has life 

 been successful in manifesting itself in activities which 

 are compensatory to those of inorganic nature. The 

 energy which is dissipated in the radiation of the 

 cooling sun is again made potential in the form of the 

 carbohydrates, synthesised from water and carbon 

 dioxide by the agency of the chlorophyllian organisms, 

 and this energy accumulates. It is employed by the 



