32 Causes and Course of Organic Evolution 



of the same physical and chemical phenomena that we find 

 in the rest of nature." 



At the outset it must be candidly confessed that the stages 

 are few and extremely imperfect, but they are greatly more 

 abundant and helpful than in the days of "the evolutionary 

 fathers." 



A first requirement for the successful formation of the above 

 organic constituents in steadily increasing complexity is some 

 type or phase of energy that can so energize even the most complex 

 inorganic crystalloid or colloid that it will continue to integrate 

 or build up into more complex states. Without such, all aggre- 

 gations of matter must have remained inert. 



In other words, while we accept Leibnitz's view as to force 

 or the exhibition of energy being the most fundamental and 

 important phenomenon in the universe that alone explains 

 the structure and actions of inorganic and organic bodies, we 

 would emphasize, as a further necessity of the case, not only 

 the existence of such phases of energy as we have hitherto 

 associated with inorganic bodies, but further such phase or 

 phases of energy, of more condensed quality, as will explain 

 to us the capacity for linking together even the most complex 

 colloid molecules of organic kind, such as the molecules of 

 the gray brain substance of man. 



It is well known that green plants absorb large amounts 

 of lumic energy, but such is not directly used in splitting up 

 the COg molecules, and in uniting the freed carbon mth water 

 constituents, for the heat evolved in the process would burn 

 up the tissues. It is tacitly accepted that electric energy is 

 the active agent in the work. In such a case, or even according 

 to the view that some other type of energy is concerned, the 

 chlorophyll may he regarded as an energy transformer. Evi- 

 dence in favor of this will be advanced later. 



If electric, cliemic, lumic, or thermic energy, separately 

 or together, have started life conditions, then it might seem 

 at least likely that these energies could continue to build up 

 numerous quaternary, quinary, and other more elaborate 

 products, without life being necessarily attached to or a result 



