258 THEORETICAL BIOLOGY 



THE WEB OF LIFE 



Starting from the shaping process of the individual 

 organism, we perceive that we have before us a product 

 of several formative factors. 



We can rightly appreciate the movements of a drop of 

 water on the rippled surface of a lake, only when we have 

 studied the direction as well as the force of the intersecting 

 lines of ripples : in the same way, the form of each living 

 creature can be brought nearer our comprehension, only when 

 we have analysed the action of the formative impetuses that 

 cross one another within it. 



We may prelude the attempt by picturing the formative 

 tendency of each impetus as dominating freely. In so doing, 

 we become aware of the restrictions imposed on it by the 

 others. 



If we concentrate our attention solely on one formative 

 impetus, we cannot fail to perceive that, from the standpoint 

 of the individual organism, both community and species 

 impose on it restrictions that are antagonistic to it as an 

 individual. In the same , way also, from the standpoint of 

 the species-impetus, we feel the embarrassing restriction that 

 the demands of the individual and of the community lay upon 

 that. The same is true of the interest of the community, 

 which finds itself hemmed in by the interests of the individual 

 and of the species. 



These mutual restrictions give us proof that we have 

 before us a coarse-meshed tissue, which can be comprehended 

 only from a standpoint higher than those afforded us by 

 individual, community or species. This all-embracing inter- 

 weaving cannot be referred to any particular formative 

 impetus. Here at last we see the action of life as such, work- 

 ing in conformity with plan. 



As a rule, the attempt is made to place the interest of the 



