16 ORIGIN AND NATURE OF LIFE 



problems, and in so doing develop the highest 

 and noblest instincts — these are something 

 more than the purely physical. 



The material substructure must be there to 

 render thought possible, and as soon as that 

 substructure develops it becomes inhabited by 

 certain forms of energy which become more 

 complex in their manifestations as the sub- 

 structure evolves. Structure and function 

 react upon each other as evolution proceeds, 

 and there is throughout a continuity, but it is 

 questionable if anything is gained by assuming, 

 while our knowledge is still so incomplete, 

 that matter may not follow new laws as it 

 becomes more complex, for new forms or 

 manifestations of energy may arise which were 

 impossible or lacking to the simpler forms of 

 matter. Care is needed that in entering into 

 disputations as to whether it is not all chem- 

 istry and physics, terminology is not becoming 

 confused so that the dispute is only over terms 

 instead of over things. 



A remarkably clear side light is thrown 

 upon the problem if, instead of passing up- 

 wards in complexity of structure of matter 

 towards life, consideration is given to the 

 energy changes which occur when matter 

 becomes more simple in structure. This will 

 be dealt with later in greater detail when 



