122 WHAT IS LIFE 



explain to us how the locomotive comes to be able 

 to haul its load along them. 



This explanation then is another example of a 

 verbal explanation which explains nothing. 



But, it may be argued, the explanation of a 

 vital force we will retain that name as the most 

 ancient, though it matters little what we call it 



is it a this explanation too is a verbal one, since you 



plication""? cannot see that force or detect it by the aid of any 

 instrument. This we may admit without for a 

 moment consenting to look upon the theory as a 

 mere verbal one, for if we cannot see the force 

 itself, we can see its manifestations, we can compare 

 them with all the other manifestations with which 

 we are familar, and, by a process of elimination, 

 we can come to the conclusion that here we are 

 dealing with something of a nature different from 

 that of any non-living force and unknown in 

 non-living nature. We have excellent parallels 

 and precedents for entertaining this belief. No 



Gravitation one doubts the reality of gravitation, since all 

 can perceive its operations, yet no one has ever 

 seen this force nor has any person yet propounded 

 an explanation of its nature which has met with 

 anything like general approval in the scientific 

 4 world. 



The ether Or again take the question of the ether, the 



existence of which no scientific man doubts. Yet 



