UNDER THE APPLE-TREES 



geologic to the biologic, their mathematics and their 

 physics do not go very far. They can analyze many 

 of the life-processes and milock many secrets with 

 their mechanical and chemical principles, but they 

 cannot account for life itself, they cannot reduce 

 vital functions to scientific categories; they cannot 

 account for the mind, for consciousness, nor show us 

 the relation of thought to matter. Here some sort of 

 philosophy is necessary, and here arise the scientific 

 philosophers, like Spencer and others, and offer us 

 their guesses or interpretations. Each and all take a 

 leap in the dark; their science fails them and their 

 philosophy comes to their aid. Many of the physical 

 objects of life can be dealt with by science, but its 

 psychic aspects cannot be so dealt with; a science 

 of psychology is impossible. Biophysics are not the 

 same as geophysics; there is a new, unknown factor 

 to be dealt with. Evolution is not a mere process; it 

 is a progress; it is not a circle, but a spiral. 



" Creative Evolution " is likely to live as literature 

 even though it should be discredited as philosophy. 

 Attacked its philosophy of course will be, and has 

 been. But vitalized by such a style and humanized 

 by such a spirit so in fellowship with the highest 

 emotions and aspirations of the soul, Bergson's phi- 

 losophy, I think, stands a better chance of surviving 

 than any other system of our time. It is a proclama- 

 tion of emancipation to minds in the bondage of 

 materialism and mechanism. It makes free as the 



22Q 



