

An Introduction to a Biology 



word from one meaning is transmitted by tliat 

 word to another and perfectly distinct meaning. 

 For instance, the word " law " is used for those 

 enactments which in human society adjust the 

 relations between individuals. It is also used, as 

 we know, for those generalisations made by man 

 of regularities or sequences observed in phenomena. 

 But laws, in the latter sense, natural laws as we 

 call them, have been infected through the word as 

 a " carrier," so to speak, with many of the attributes 

 of law in the other sense. To such lengths has this 

 infection proceeded that such absurd expressions as 

 the phenomenon obeys the law of gravity," or 

 breaks all the laws of nature," are often heard. 

 Man's reluctance to keep an eye on the changes 

 which may be taking place in the meaning of a 

 word is part and parcel of his reluctance to turn 

 his eye inwards and examine the operation and 

 furniture of his mind. The result of this reluctance 

 is that he never takes stock of the medium whereby 

 he conveys the results of his thoughts and researches 

 to others, and whereby he receives such results from 

 others. Yet if we are going to set out in earnest to 

 understand life, we must perpetually keep a curious 

 eye upon the relation between the word and its 

 meaning. 



The reader may take exception to the sentence, 

 " If we are going to set out in real earnest to under- 

 stand life," and ask, " Have you the impudence 

 to suggest that we have not yet even started to 

 understand life ? Are you utterly ignorant of Modern 

 Biology ? Or are you wilfully ignoring it ? Do you 



propose to sweep aside entirely the work of those 



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