; 
: 
UI ; 
i 
THE METHOD BY WHICH THE CAUSES OF THE 
PRESENT AND PAST CONDITIONS OF ORGANIC 
NATURE ARE TO BE DISCOVERED THE 
ORIGINATION OF LIVING BEINGS. 
In the two preceding lectures I have endeavoured 
to indicate to you the extent of the subject-matter 
of the inquiry upon which we are engaged; and 
having thus acquired some conception of the past — 
and present phenomena of organic nature, I must 
now turn to that which constitutes the great prob- 
lem which we have set before ourselves ;—I mean, — 
the question of what knowledge we have of the ~ 
causes of these phenomena of organic nature, and 
how such knowledge is obtainable. 
Here, on the threshold of the inquiry, an 
objection meets us. There are in the world a 
number of extremely worthy, well-meaning 
persons, whose judgments and opinions are _ 
entitled to the utmost respect on account of 
their sincerity, who are of opinion that vital 
t 
4 
: 
7 
