342 ADAPTIVENESS AND PURPOSIVENESS 



organism's ready-made self. The organism as a whole 

 hardly requires to keep its hand on the reins, purpose has be- 

 come implicit. There are disadvantages in this, for the fixity 

 sometimes leads to quaint mistakes, but it spells economy 

 and allows more freedom for direct or individual purposive; 

 or purposeful endeavours and experiments. Just as we need 

 the uniformity of the inorganic domain as a reliable fulcrum 

 for our efforts, so the uniformity of organised or implicit 

 purposiveness, besides saving organismal energy, may serve 

 as a trustworthy stepping-stone to higher things. 



When we observe an intricate machine with many regula- 

 tive adjustments, such as safety-valves, we are impressed 

 with its efficiency and purposelikeness. But we credit its 

 maker with purpose, not itself; the concept does not grip. 

 It is a confusion of thought to speak of a torpedo or a solar 

 system being actuated by purpose. Only an organism or a 

 higher form of Being can have a purpose. 



Similarly in regard to the smooth working of the organs 

 of a complex animal and even the orderly development of 

 the same we are inclined to say that the appropriate term 

 is adaptive not purposive. The concept of adaptation suffices 

 for the fact that in ordinary functioning " the whole and the 

 parts are, as it were, reciprocally ends to each other ". The 

 harmonious functioning and development are the outcome 

 of an organisation gradually wrought out through ages and 

 are exhibited whenever suitable liberating stimuli are pres- 

 ent. We need not here introduce the concept of actuating 

 purpose in any form. 



But it seems legitimate to lay emphasis on the view which 

 we have tried to substantiate that the adaptive organisation 

 did not come about mechanically, that it has behind it a 

 long history in which germinal variability and organic pur- 



