TRUE AIM OF BIOLOGY 83 



physical and chemical change are the sensuous 

 data, by bringing which into relation with his 

 guiding idea he arrives at physiological know 

 ledge; and what he sees behind the appear 

 ances of changes in form, electrical changes, 

 absorption of oxygen, and all the other out 

 ward signs of muscular activity is the meta 

 bolic activity of the living muscle-cells. 



If we assume that the conception of the 

 living organism is the fundamental conception 

 of biology, it is clear that the aim of biology 

 differs entirely from what it would be if 

 the mechanistic theory were accepted. All 

 attempts to trace the ultimate mechanism 

 of life must be given up as meaningless. The 

 aim of biology becomes a very different one 

 to trace in increasing detail, and with increas 

 ing clearness, the organic determination which 

 the ground conception postulates. The 

 bodily processes for instance, the apparent 

 mechanical or chemical processes of movement 

 of the limbs, of breathing, of circulation, of 

 digestive changes, of the taking up and giving 

 off of various forms of matter and energy 

 become nothing but the expression of organic 

 activity. Their maintenance and working 



