10 president's address. 



universe, interpreted as it is in the physical sciences as a universe 

 of matter and energy, corresponds to absolute reality, and is for 

 this reason incapable of any further interpretation. The work of 

 modern philosophy since Berkele}^ and Hume has sho%yn that the 

 assumption in question is without foundation." (I need hai'dly 

 reiterate that with regard to this assumption I am in entire 

 agreement with Dr. Haldane's attitude.) 



But " the form in which the objection in question really presents 

 itself to most physiologists is that, apart from all metaphysical 

 arguments, vitalism presents no positive working hypothesis 

 capable of being used to advance physiolog3\" 



It is with Dr. Haldane's treatment of this aspect of the 

 problem of vitalism versus mechanism, — occupying the latter two 

 thirds of his article, — that I shall more particularly concern 

 myself with at this time. 



I shall not dispute the proposition that, in the progress of the 

 science of physiology, physico-chemical theories of living process 

 have broken down all along the line. I readily admit that such 

 theories have in eveiy direction failed to accomplish that 

 mechanical analysis of function which seemed to the physiolo- 

 gists of the later decades of the century to be so nearly within 

 their grasp. Yet it would be grossly inaccurate to assert that 

 the attempt to explain life as mechanism has resulted in nothing 

 but failure. The fact is that mechanism after mechanism has 

 been displayed, through the operation of whose chemical and 

 physical properties the functional activity of the organism is 

 subserved. 



On the other hand it is true that the residual phenomena 

 unexplained b}' these mechanisms may in a sense be held to 

 embody the very essence of the mystery of organisation. It is 

 not diffieult to see that in the nature of the case this must be so. 

 It is the penalty of the abstract character of the causal principle 

 employed as the instrument of research. The forging of links in 

 an endless chain of mechanical causation is a never-ending 

 process, — the mystery ever recedes as we pursue it further into 

 the recesses of organisation. 



