The Energy of Segmejitation 285 



first, to demonstrate that to the organism as a whole there can be 

 applied upon a basis other than a general methodological one, 

 namely, upon an experimental, metrical one, the same general 

 principles of physico-chemical science as are used for the predic- 

 tion, control, and explanation of inorganic events. 



With this application successful in the particular instance which 

 has been chosen for it, namely, the event of segmentation, then, 

 secondly, as a valid generalization, I believe its meaning can be 

 extended to other, perhaps to all organic phenomena, and the 

 question made germane: Is it still correct to maintain the exist- 

 ence of a distinction between the organic and the inorganic, and, 

 if so, in just what respect ? 



It will be recognized, then, that it is not only a fitting, but also 

 a necessary preliminary to the carrying out of this program, that 

 these principles, which, first, it is our immediate purpose to apply, 

 which, second, have guided our experimentation, and which, 

 third, must be considered in order to answer our major question, 

 should receive a brief statement. These principles are the 



FOUR LAWS OF ENERGY 



Energy may be defined as that which does work,^ and those 

 which may be regarded as the four chief principles with respect 

 to energy are as follows: Conservation, potential and potential 

 difference, entropy, and invariability.^ 



The First Law is that of the conservation of energy. It may be 

 stated in at least two ways: 



First : In an isolated or closed system in which events are occur- 

 ring or changes are taking place the energy-quantum remains 

 constant; this continues to be the same all through the process. 

 Change and constancy are thus in some way united. 



In reality, however, no system is isolated, a fact which has very 

 important consequences. 



^Certain well-grounded objections have been made to this definition, but these we cannot consider 

 here. Cf. The General Principles of Physical Science, by A. A. Noycs. pp. 73-4. 



^A classification essentially similar to this has been given by Driesch in his Natur-urteile und Natur- 

 begriffe. Leipzig, 1904. 



