270 THE THEORIES OF EVOLUTION 



whole chemical constitution, not excluding its repro- 

 ductive cells. Furthermore, owing to the reciprocal 

 interaction or "reversibility" of colloidal phenomena 

 and chemical phenomena, the new chemical condition 

 of the germ cells will affect the colloidal structure of 

 the organism to which the germ cells will give rise. 

 The logical consequences of this are evident — acquired 

 characters can be transmitted hereditarily. 12 



This is subtile and interesting but the author fails to 

 account for one essential detail — the interaction of the 

 various phenomena. We may admit the possibility 

 of this interaction but as long as its process is not re- 

 vealed to us the problem remains unsolved. 



We cannot help being fascinated by Le Dantec's 

 broad generalisations, by his bold conceptions and the 

 novel vistas he opens, but after reading his books we 

 feel that we have not advanced a single step. This 

 is mere intellectual gymnastics, academic juggling 

 with difficult problems. The question is approached 

 from an unexpected side, in a very impressive way, 

 but we are as far as ever from the solution sought 

 for. 



The fault lies less with the author's conceptions than 

 with the method he follows. By introducing mathe- 

 matical reasoning into biology he gives the impression 

 of absolute accuracy and of unimpeachable rigour 

 of conclusions in matters where everything is, in real- 



12 Elements de Philosophie Biologique, Chs. Ill, IV et V. 



