MONISM AND DUALISM 235 



tirely on internal causes, and is hindered by the 

 action of external causes ; while in plants and ani- 

 mals symmetry is due to adaptation to external con- 

 ditions, and the interior is of ten asymmetrical when 

 the exterior is symmetrical. I need not pursue this 

 subject further. 



Although Mr. Herbert Spencer is not himself a 

 monist, his philosophy forms the basis of all scientific 

 monistic speculation. However, it is only that por- 

 tion which relates to the doctrine of abiogenesis that 

 concerns us here. 



Firstly, Mr. Spencer sees in the mineral colloids, 

 or mineral jellies, a connecting link between the 

 mineral crystalloids and the organic colloids. He 

 quotes Professor Graham as saying that the minernl 

 colloids are dynamical states of matter, inasmuch a* 

 they possess energy and are prone to change. But 

 this energy, if it exists, can only be employed in one 

 way, namely, in changing the colloid into a crystal- 

 loid, and this is simply due to the loss of water. It 

 is a purely mechanical process, and does not in any 

 way lead up to vital action. Take a concrete 

 example : the common change of the colloid opal 

 into the crystalloid quartz. We see at once that 

 the movements are altogether unlike those of a living 

 substance. All the similarities that have been 

 pointed out are merely analogies and have no 

 meaning. Possibly the mineral colloids have their 

 molecules surrounded by films of water, like the 

 micellae of organic substances, but here the resem- 

 blance ends. 



Secondly, Mr. Spencer has stated the problem of 



