CONFORMITY WITH PLAN 289 



together by a rule. This rule, however, cannot be referred to 

 a hidden framework, because the hypothetical hidden frame- 

 work must likewise divide and duplicate itself,— a process 

 that is just as insoluble mechanically. 



There remains no course open for us but to recognise 

 that here before our eyes a process is going on that is accom- 

 plished, not through mechanical compulsion, but through 

 active invasion by a super-mechanical design. Following the 

 line we have pursued up to now, we shall assume the invasion 

 by separate impulses, which are connected together into a 

 system. 



The study of cell-division is accordingly of great value 

 to us, since it provides us with a helpful schema for the 

 elucidation of the super-mechanical processes in the central 

 nervous system. There also it is sufficient to assume the 

 appearance of centrosome-like structures with their proto- 

 plasmic threads ; and this will give us some concrete idea of 

 how fresh conducting bridges appear between one nerve- 

 person and another. This does not essentiaJly alter our 

 comparison of the nerve-persons to amcebse, but merely 

 simplifies and deepens it. 



The sure and flawless interlocking of the various part- 

 processes in cell-division has misled investigators into regarding 

 it as a purely mechanical process. This is a misconception, 

 for every machine, whether it be one worked by man or a 

 living body-machine, is finally referable to a super-mechanical 

 process, — to that, namely, of framework-forming, — and the 

 mechanical rule of working always presupposes a super- 

 mechanical rule of construction. Moreover, it has been over- 

 looked that every machine in course of time wears out, if 

 there be no direction continually disposing of the damage. So 

 there must always be a super-mechanical rule of direction 

 coming in to keep the mechanical running in working order. 



Here we have before us, in concrete form, direct invasion 



T 



