TOWARDS A THEORY OF LIFE 1411 



of explanation may be — in fact is— needed to explain many if not 

 all movements evoked by different stimuli, however alike material. 

 In short, then, the apsychic biology was nothing better or stronger 

 than are other conventions and survivals in culture; although we 

 remain physiological enough not to venture into psychology or 

 philosophy disembodied from organic life, until we come into dis- 

 course with such philosophers, and find them worthy of them. 



If so, "Biology" and "Psychology" are but convenient terms for 

 associated and reciprocal life-aspects; and thus each but a partial 

 presentment of Life's science, as is the distinctness of concave and 

 convex sides for the study of a circle or other curve. The real pheno- 

 mena for us are these of Body-mind and Mind-body — Bio-psychosis 

 and Psycho-biosis. Though in ordinary language we go on with the 

 familiar terms of Biology and Psychology, there is no escaping the 

 fact that neither can ignore the interacting existence of both these 

 processes in the phenomena they describe. The biologist but ap- 

 proaches from the former side; and the psychologist is more inter- 

 ested in the latter. 



Hence our two half-diagrams may now be conveniently abbre- 

 viated and unified; yet also amplified, by introduction of concave 

 and convex curves on left and right ; so here by parenthesis-marks, 

 set sideways, between organic and psychic terms in each case, and 

 thus in opposite positions on the two sides. Their converse mode of 

 interaction may now be read accordingly. On the left side, of Pwf 

 or Ef o. Environment impresses sense in its receptive cup ; and so on 

 throughout. But on the other side. Feeling presses Organism (or 

 Folk) upwards, to urge of functioning; and thus on environment, 

 discerned also from within. Hence on this side the capitals and 

 smalls are reversed, to express what we take to be their respective 

 importance; now on the right in Psycho-biosis, Mind-body, and 

 not, as on the left, in Bio-psychosis, Body-mind. 



PL PI 



Se SE 



WK Wk 



exp EXP 



FK Fk 



->- 



fg FG 



/ Bio-psychosis \  f Psycho-biosis ^^ 

 1 Body-mind J ^ 1 Mind-body J 



Criticisms towards Improvement. — Yet on which side shall we 

 set this or that example of life's functioning? Has it not, often at 

 least, something of both? Does even a root merely passively absorb 



