THE GENESIS OF LIVING ORGANISMS 223 



and effectors, does not degenerate, but goes on forming itself 

 normally, if it continues to receive nourishment through intact 

 blood-vessels. This proves that in the cerebrum there are 

 still present impulses which are not subject to the rule of func- 

 tion but to that of construction. 



SUBJECTS 



We have already learnt what are the characteristic features 

 distinguishing the fully-formed subject from every machine. 

 Chiefly they depend on the subject being a law unto itself ; 

 and this law of the subject carries out its own performances 

 but no counter-performances. All subjects have a rule of 

 function of their own, which expresses itself not only in the 

 framework, given once and for all, and in the activity thereof, 

 but which also is able to repair all framework within certain 

 limits ; consequently, this rule represents a natural factor 

 that is continually operative. 



Moreover, all subjects are perfect, because, in function- 

 ing, they exploit all the properties of their material substance ; 

 they make no distinction between leading and accompanying 

 properties as implements do, the accompanying properties of 

 which spring from the dead material out of which they are 

 fashioned. 



All living beings are subjects ; therefore all life must 

 be traced back to subjects, and the attempt to derive it 

 from any mere conglomeration of fermenting matter must 

 be given up once for all. 



So far as we can judge at present, to be alive and to be 

 a subject mean the same thing. To be a subject means, 

 namely, the continuous control of a framework by an 

 autonomous rule, in contrast to a heteronomous rule that 

 loses its efficacy as soon as the framework is disturbed. 



Therefore living matter must behave quite differently 



