

DECADENCE AND REVIVAL 35 



ing the views of Professor Moore and others 

 who hold like opinions with him, there is no 

 real difference, no difference at all but one of 

 terminology between him and older writers 

 or at least many of the older writers on the 

 vitalistic question. 



At least this may be said that all alike 

 proclaim that in living bodies there is some- 

 thing else present in addition to what is found 

 existing in non-living bodies, and that " some- 

 thing over " is whatever we call it the vital 

 principle as defined by the schoolmen from 

 whom quotation has been made. 



There have been, as we shall see, various 

 attempts made, as indeed the passage above 

 quoted is an attempt, to find a via media be- 

 tween Vitalism and blank Materialism, but, it 

 must be confessed, so far without any success. 

 Nor indeed can success be hoped for since it is 

 difficult to see what tertium quid can possibly 

 exist between "living" and " non-living " 

 matter. 



This brief sketch will serve as an introduction 

 to our subject, and having next surveyed the 

 scholastic position in general we can commence 

 a systematic examination of the question of 

 Vitalism. 



