APPENDIX 415 



foundation for a more harmonious development of his mental 

 life? 



I believe by the universal recognition of the actual rela- 

 tions towards one another of organic beings in nature. 



In the choice of my method of treating this question I 

 have been guided by the desire of showing by special investi- 

 gation how mistaken are those who are never tired of main- 

 taining that the doctrines of Natural Science, especially the 

 newest, are in antagonism to morality, and to idealism in 

 general. 



I will point out how rather the contrary is the case, how 

 these very doctrines, rightly understood, coincide with the 

 laws which make the noblest claims on life. 



And how could it be otherwise since these laws have 

 sprung from the original demands of Nature herself. 



To carry out my purpose I intend to attack the apparent 

 independence of the animal organism which is implied in the 

 word individual, i.e. indivisible, to dispute the claim of the 

 organism to separate isolated existence, and will endeavour to 

 prove that the conception of such an indivisible entity is 

 unable to withstand a more exact investigation. 



I shall endeavour to prove this (1) by a consideration of 

 the question of the isolated unity of individuals themselves ; 

 and (2) by the consideration of the direct connection of the 

 individuals, even of different species, with one another, as 

 shown by new evidence. 



I 



Among the differences which have been stated to dis- 

 tinguish animals from plants, it has been insisted that one of 

 the most prominent is that the animal is a complete distinctly- 

 defined unity from which no part can be separated without 

 injury to the whole, and without the probable destruction of 

 the separated part, while plants on the contrary are tolerant 



