82 Vitality and Organization of Protoplasm. 



. ful energy, manifest in specific modes of vital reaction of the organism in rela- 

 tion to its medium, come creatively into existence. All that is most character- 

 istic of vital organization and its activity, all that constitutes its specific nature, 

 merges thus newly produced into being, resulting from potencies not previously 

 realized. This amounts not altogether to a creation out of nothing; btit it is 



N a coming into existence of efficiencies previously non-existent. 



It is evident, explain it as we may — a living being in relation to its organic 

 and inorganic environment is found to be out and out te.leologically developed. Its 

 organization is preconcertedly constituted for life in a specific medium. And the 

 development of an organism from a reproductive germ is obviously teleologically 

 predetermined by the natvire of the organism to be developed therefrom. The 

 exact plan of the whole being, eventually to be formed as a product of nature, 

 enters here somehow as a final cause in its reproduction." This was written 

 seventeen years ago in an article in \\hich I aimed to prove the radical difference 

 obtaining "between the so-called social organism and the actual vital organism. 

 -International Journal of Ethics," Vol. VIII, pp. 58. 59, 1887. 



EDMUND MONTGOMEEY. 

 Hempstead, Texas. Eebnmry 23. 1904. 



