THE CHEMICAL ORGANIZATION 

 OF LIVING MATTER* 



Carl, F. KIbafft 



Copyrights 1927, 1937, and 1938 

 by Carl F, Krafft. 



INTRODUCTION 



The question whether the chemical organization of 

 living matter is such as can adequately account for life 

 processes is at the basis of every, argument between 

 vitalism and mechanism. A few decades ago the issue 

 was clearly defined, and anyone who had any opinion 

 at all in the matter was definitely on one side or the 

 other. Today, however, the situation is chaotic. The 

 efforts of the reconcilers have only resulted in confusion. 

 Instead of a clearly defined issue between vitalism and 

 mechanism, we now have ''holism" and "organicism" — 

 whatever these may mean. It brings to mind the old say- 

 ing of Mephistopheles : "Denn eben wo Begriffe fehlen, 

 da stellt das Wort zur rechten Zeit sich ein." (For just 

 where concepts are lacking, there the word introduces 

 itself at the opportune time.) It may confidently be 

 stated, however, that the thoughtful student of modern 

 science will never be satisfied with any "reconciliation" 

 which does not give a definite answer of "yes" or "no" 

 to the question whether there exists in the living organ- 

 ism a metaphysical entity in addition to the chemical 

 elements C, H, N, 0, S, P, etc., and their structural or- 

 ganizations. 



* Presented before the International Congress of Plasmogeny and Gen- 

 eral Culture, Mexico City, July, 1938. 



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