PREFACE 



This work deals with some of the problems which fall 

 within the debatable borderland between Science and 

 Philosophy. It is a book neither of Science nor of Philo- 

 sophy, but of some points of contact between the two. To 

 my mind it is the surface of contact between the two that will 

 prove fruitful and creative for future progress in both, and 

 to which special attention should be directed. Some border 

 problems between the two are here considered in the light 

 of recent advances in physical and biological science. And a 

 re-examination of fundamental concepts in the light of these 

 advances reveals the existence of a hitherto neglected 

 factor or principle of a very important character. This 

 factor, called Holism in the sequel, underlies the synthetic 

 tendency in the universe, and is the principle which makes 

 for the origin and progress of wholes in the universe. An I 

 attempt is made to show that this whole-making or holistic 

 tendency is fundamental in nature, that it has a well-marked 

 ascertainable character, and that Evolution is nothing 

 but the gradual development and stratification of progressive 

 series of wholes, stretching from the inorganic beginnings 

 to the highest levels of spiritual creation. This work deals 

 with our primary concepts of matter, life, mind and person- 

 ality in the light of this principle, and discusses some of the 

 problems of Evolution from this new point of view. The 

 discussion is not technical, specialist or exhaustive in any 

 sense. It is intended to sketch and explain the general lines 

 of argument rather than to go into details. It is especially 

 the fundamental concept of Holism which I wish to explain 

 and justify, as well as the scientific and philosophic view- 

 point to which it leads. The detailed elaboration must be 

 left to more competent hands and to those favoured with 

 more leisure than I can find in a busy public life. I have 



