LIFE AND DEATH. 



PREFACE. 



THE following paper was first printed as an academic lecture in 

 the summer of the present year (1883), with the title 'Upon the 

 Eternal Duration of Life' ('Uber die Ewigkeit des Lebens'). In 

 now bringing it before a larger public in an expanded and improved 

 form, I have chosen a title which seemed to me to correspond 

 better with the present contents of the paper. 



The stimulus which led to this biological investigation was 

 given in a memoir by Gotte, in which this author opposes views 

 which I had previously expressed. Although such an origin has 

 naturally caused my paper to take the form of a reply, my inten- 

 tion was not merely to controvert the views of my opponent, but 

 rather using those opposed views as a starting-point to throw 

 new light upon certain questions which demand consideration ; to 

 give additional support to thoughts which I have previously ex- 

 pressed, and to penetrate, if possible, more deeply into the problem 

 of life and death. 



If, in making this attempt, the views of my opponent have been 

 severely criticized, it will be acknowledged that the criticisms do 

 not form the purpose of my paper, but only the means by which 

 the way to a more correct understanding of the problems before us 

 may be indicated. 



A. W. 



FREIBUBG i. BREISGAU, 

 Oct. 1 8, 1883. 



