LECTURE X. 

 ADAPTIVE^ESS AND PURPOSIVENESS. 



§ 1. Animate Nature Abounds in Adaptations. § 2. Their Origin 

 neither hy Design nor Mechanical. § 3. 7s There ' Purpose ' 

 in the Inorganic Domain? §4. Purposefulness and Purposive- 

 ness in Human Behaviour. § 5. Purposiveness and Purpose- 

 fulness in Animal Behaviour. § 6. The Purposelikeness of the 

 Ordinary Functioning of the Body is Covered by the Concept 

 of Adaptation. § 7. Provisional Conclusion and Anticipation. 



Our survey of the Realm of Organisms as it is affords 

 evidence in support of the following propositions: (1) that 

 living creatures are individualities standing apart from 

 things in general and not exhaustively described in mecha- 

 nistic terms; (2) that their lives abound in behaviour with 

 a psychical aspect; (3) that there is in Animate Nature 

 a prevalence of orderly systematisation, balance, and smooth 

 working; (4) that there is a pervasive beauty both hidden 

 and revealed; and (5) that a very large proportion of the 

 time and energy at the disposal of organisms is devoted to 

 activities which make not for self-maintenance and self- 

 aggrandisement, but for the continuance and welfare of the 

 race. In fact, we find in Animate Nature far-reaching 

 correspondence to the ideals of the True, the Beautiful, and 

 the Good — correspondences which may suggest to some a 

 possible line of development for Natural Theology. 



§ 1. Animate Nature Abounds in Adaptations. 



A survey of the realm of organisms affords another great 

 impression and that is the prevalence of adaptations. '' The 



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