28 The Unity of tlie Organism 



the organism influence its elements, and then search among 

 the cells for examples of such influence. But this, the de- 

 ductive mode of reasoning, is a complete antithesis to that 

 on which we shall chiefly rely in this treatise, indeed to that 

 on which biology always has chiefly relied so far as its prog- 

 ress has been healthy and vigorous and straight ahead. 



Holding, consequently that the proposition must be in- 

 ductively established if it is to be established at all, the 

 heavy task devolves upon us of examining, as above in- 

 dicated, a great range of the biological field to see how it 

 fares with the two opposing hypotheses (and viewing the 

 theories from the present stage of our enterprise, they 

 should be considered as hypotheses in the strictest sense) 

 when they are tested by a great number of fully authen- 

 ticated observations. From this general statement it is 

 apparent that the first division must be for the most part 

 distinctively critical. That, however, it is not wholly of 

 this character, I trust will be patent enough to the attentive 

 reader. 



Part II will consist of a systematic presentation of the 

 fully established inductive evidence which, if fairly consid- 

 ered, compels, as I believe, the adoption of some such 

 general view as that here defended and would be called, 

 according to nomenclatorial precedent, organismalixm. 



On behalf of this unauthorized and rather bungling word, 

 I make no plea. In fact, the use of it goes against the grain 

 with me somewhat and I avoid it as far as possible. The 

 sum and substance of the situation is, though, that the term 

 seems to force itself upon me at times. It corners us, so 

 to speak, and will not let us escape without taking it up and 

 carrying it with us. But perhaps the possession of such 

 power as this is just what entitles new words to live. If so, 

 and should the idea prevail for which the word stands, the 

 word will prevail too unless some one having special com- 

 petency in fabricating words finds a better. Which of these 



