106 THE PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 



The speaker next discussed the principle of 

 beneficial design in nature. I am glad, he said, 

 that Father Wasmann accepts the principle of 

 selection. It is notorious that the vitalists hold 

 another opinion, and think that a designing prin 

 ciple is inherent in the organisms themselves. 

 These two views are as irreconcilable as fire and 

 water. We may ask whether an organism invari 

 ably acts for its own advantage, or whether its 

 actions result disastrously. Unfortunately in in 

 numerable cases its actions are disastrous, as soon 

 as it is placed in extraordinary conditions. There is 

 therefore no immanent directing principle in nature. 

 You all know this from the hackneyed saying that 

 the world is a vale of tears ! 



Professor Plate has given an inaccurate 

 account of my opinions regarding the theory 

 of selection. (Cf. p. 41, etc. in my second lecture.) 

 I believe it to be merely a subordinate auxiliary 

 factor, and it assumes, as chief factor, ability 

 on the part of the organism to produce forms 

 adapted to the purpose in view, for otherwise 

 no selection of the fittest would be possible. 

 Thus the directing principle, immanent in the 

 organisms, and the principle of selection are 

 far from being as irreconcilable as fire and water, 

 but are the complement one of the other. 

 Plate has plainly a mistaken idea of the 

 immanent principle of vitalism, which he seeks 



