EVOLUTION IN NATURE 169 



sociated state, the idea requires interpretation. Is 

 it permissible to say that water has properties 

 which are not an expression of the properties of 

 oxygen and hydrogen as elements? Obviously, for 

 the one is a liquid while the others are gases at 

 normal temperatures. The compound has alto- 

 gether different physical properties in other ways 

 as well. But we cannot say that water is not an 

 expression of the potentialities of the two elements. 

 We have merely introduced relationship between 

 the two and association with environmental con- 

 ditions as an additional source of stimulus to bring 

 about the expression of otherwise latent possibili- 

 ties, a situation wholly similar to that which ob- 

 tains in the organism. Hydrogen may not express 

 its share of water-forming power save in the pres- 

 ence of oxygen, and vice versa. Even though mixed 

 the two do not become water unless the proper 

 external conditions prevail. Yet if the power to 

 produce the properties of water is not inherent in 

 hydrogen and oxygen, then certainly the union 

 represented by H2O may sometimes give different 

 results — ^an obvious absurdity. It is impossible 

 even with the aid of emergent evolution to discard 

 the fact that the characteristics of an organism are 

 resultants of its components and the conditions 

 under which it exists. 



Morgan's distinction between emergents and re- 

 sultants is philosophically a nice bit of reasoning. 



