THEIR LIFE AND AFFINITY. 245 



of particles belongs properly to its internal vegetative side, its external 

 side (for the very reason that it is turned immediately to the outer 

 world) will appear as a perceptive and reciprocating activity*. But 

 since we may constantly recognise in every mutual relation of body as 

 well as of action a threefold momenttim, viz. action, reaction, and con- 

 nexion or the indiiference of both, these three elements must therefore 

 be found also in each of the two sides of the animal organism. In fact 

 we find them in the external (animal) side, as perception, motion, and 

 the connexion of both through the nerves ; in the internal vegetative 

 side, as assimilation, secretion, and the connexion of both by circulation. 

 But whatever is true of the bond which in these two spheres gives every 

 form its centricity, the same must naturally be found in the so-called 

 connecting nenous and vascular systems. Yet these two systems must 

 not perhaps be considered as occasioning a real dualism in the organi- 

 zation, but as equally subordinate and reduced to a unity, namely the 

 nervous system, as being the higher, because it belongs to the animal 

 which includes the vegetative sphere. 



Sixth consequence. As the jjlant is not merely occupied with its own 

 change of particles and continual transformation, but when it has at- 

 tained its perfect development produces the seed, as the representative 

 of all its properties, the true reproduction of the species, we find in the 

 animal likewise a similar reproduction of the species, in so far as even 

 the animal is but a more perfect vegetable nature. The system thus 

 established in respect to the animal, viz. the sexual system, possesses in 

 its nature a polarity similar to that of the plant ; for we find in the more 

 perfectly organized animals, a female reproductive and a male impreg- 

 nating organ. But, on the contrary, we find the \o\\ev animals, like 

 the inferior plants (see p. 239), endowed with female organs only. The 

 activity of this system, manifesting itself especially in assimilation, se- 

 cretion, and (as the basis of these two momenta) in vascular action, be- 

 longs to the sphere of vegetation ; and there is nothing to be compared 

 with it in the animal sphere, except that activity by virtue of which, in 

 the most perfect animal organism, that is the human, the idea of nature 

 is reproduced by means of spiritual power, and truly developed through 

 science and art. 



We have now further to consider the composition and internal forma- 

 tion of the animal body, as well as the nature and direction of its active 

 faculties of life. In the first point of view, we observe that it contains, 

 like the organism of the earth and of the plant, a combination of solids, 

 fluids, vapours, and gases, among which tlie fluids are again the sources 

 of the rest. Its ultimate elements are principally hydrogen, oxygen, and 



• It is only in this way that the origin of the sensible side is capable of a 

 scientific constniction. 



Vol. I.— Part II. s 



