THE "SOMETHING OVEK" 139 



But if the facts in question cannot thus be 

 explained we are then driven to the conclusion 



that there is a "something over" in living matter " Something 



M 



which does not exist in non-living. 



Some call this a " vital force," others, apparently 

 thinking that that term savours of medievalism and 

 superstition, prefer to invent some new name. 



It does not seem of any very great consequence 

 what we call this force, and a careful study of the 

 different definitions thereof leads one to the con- 

 clusion that the thing concerning which all the 

 neo-vitalists are dealing in their works is the same, 

 though the names which are applied to it may be 

 quite different. 



Moreover, if there is any meaning to be got out 

 of words, the thing which the neo-vitalists mean is Neo-vitaiism 



, ., ,, . ,, ., ,. . . and vitalism 



precisely the same thing as the vitahsts or, at 

 least, those of the scholastic wing also meant 

 and mean. There was perhaps may be still a . 

 school of vitalists who looked upon the vital prin- 7 

 ciple or the human soul as a little demi-god living I 

 in the body, as Descartes supposed in the pineal i 

 body, but not of it, though directing its actions and 

 presiding over all its functions. Vitalists of this 

 kind would also conceive of the animal soul or 

 vital principle, or whatever term they might use for 

 it, as being a thing apart from the body of the animal 

 or the vegetable as the case may be. But that 



