230 HOLISM AND EVOLUTION chap. 



evolution of the universe, and may form a fitting introduction 

 to the narrower, more practical question of the functions 

 and activities of Mind in the higher animals and man. 



Mind is an advance on what has gone before in two 

 directions. And it is the peculiar interaction between the 

 double lines of advance, the intersection of the two curves 

 of advance, so to say, that produces the uniqueness of Mind 

 as a natural phenomenon. In order to appreciate this we 

 have to grasp the point which has been reached in the 

 preceding sketch of the evolution of Holism. 



We have seen that both matter and life are structures, 

 and that the advance of Evolution consists in the emergence 

 of ever more complex and intensive structures, ever more 

 complexly and highly organised wholes. In the structures 

 of matter the number of co-operative elements are fewer 

 and their interactions are simpler, so that it is still possible 

 to some extent to trace elementary effects to their separate 

 causes and sources in the structure itself. Structure is 

 dominant and its functions are calculable as elements of 

 structure. As, however, we proceed from physical to 

 chemical structures the fusion and unification of elements 

 and functions become more marked, and the structures 

 become at the same time more complex. When we come 

 to the structures of life we find not only the structural 

 elements far more numerous and the structures far more 

 complex, but also the organisation much more intensive 

 and unified and the functions much more single and unified, 

 individual and unanalysable. In a tree or an animal, for 

 instance, we find an infinity of cells and cell-structures of 

 all degrees of specialisation mutually adapted to and co- 

 operating with each other for the maintenance of a single 

 individual whole in a most wonderful way. We do not 

 ascribe this co-operation and unity of action to some pre- 

 siding intelligence in the tree or animal. In organism as 

 such there is no psychic control; and yet there is a control 

 so simple, so automatic, so effective as to baffle our powers 

 of understanding. The inner co-ordination and self-regula- 

 tion in organisms which is the organic phase of Holism is 



