1 7 o ASSIMILA TION AND REASONING. 



which distinguish vitality from non-vitality," Mr. Herbert 

 Spencer says, " we shall do well to compare the two most 

 unlike kinds of vitality, and see in what they agree." 

 Assimilation is selected as an example of " bodily life," and 

 reasoning as an example of that life known as " intelligence" 

 In choosing these examples Mr. Spencer seems to have had 

 in view the life of one of the higher animals, or man himself; 

 for, as has been shown, under " assimilation," he includes 

 many actions going on together, such as mastication, insali- 

 vation, digestion, absorption, and "transformation into tissue, 

 which constitutes the final act of assimilation." 



The phrase, " unlike kinds of vitality," is a most awkward 

 one, and requires explanation ; but, admitting assimilation 

 and reasoning to be most unlike kinds of vitality, it must be 

 remembered that the textures, which are the seat of these, 

 have a common origin, and that the original living particle, 

 from which both assimilating and reasoning organs were 

 evolved, possessed neither. Not only are assimilation and 

 reasoning not essential to all living things, but no living 

 thing exhibits these phenomena at an early period of its 

 existence. The term " bodily life" should also be explained. 

 It seems to v be contrasted with " intelligence," but I think 

 neither " bodily life " nor " intelligence " has been defined 

 by Mr. Spencer. It is scarcely necessary to point out that 

 living things actually exist without assimilation or reasoning, 

 and, therefore, that neither assimilation nor reasoning is 

 necessary to life. A seed lives, but it neither assimilates 

 (in the sense the word is used by Mr. Spencer and writers 

 generally), nor does it reason. Mr. Spencer seems not to 

 have anticipated the obvious objection that assimilation and 

 reasoning may be phenomena following or accompanying 



