viii Contents. 



PAGE 



differentiate organisms into kinds This exposition a 

 brilliant effort of scientific imagination 1. The hypothesis 

 assumes the evolution of moleculea differentiated into 

 kinds and reproduced in their kinds prior to the evolution 

 of protoplasm The two most difficult problems in organic 

 life antecedent to the first beginning of life 2. Mr. 

 Spencer assumes, contrary to uniform experience, the 

 existence of protoplasm prior to life 3. He takes for 

 granted that by minute variations molecular motion may 

 become vital action 4. To account for the varieties of 

 kind he introduces the "physiological unit," . . 156 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE PHYSIOLOGICAL UNIT. 



The physiological unit is : 1. Extremely minute 2. It is a 

 highly organized body 3. It is composed of system upon 

 system of molecules 4. These units differ in kinds 5. 

 They have a "more or less distinctive character" The 

 "polarity" of the units Immense variety of hereditary 

 attributes stored up in each unit 6. Individual charac- 

 teristics of the unit due to the incident forces Adjust- 

 ment of units as difficult to comprehend as adjustment 

 of living bodies 7. The units possess marvellous inherent 

 powers Proclivities, tendencies, power of arranging 

 themselves The environing forces the source of the 

 power that effects re-arrangement, the polarity of the 

 units determining the direction This no addition to real 

 knowledge It carries us back to a defined, differentiated 

 system The physiological unit necessary to Mr. Spencer's 

 hypothesis It is a "special creation "of the evolution 

 philosophy, ...... 168 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE ORIGIN OF SENTIENT LIFE. 



Question discussed only in relation to lower animals Take 

 dog as an example Facts to be explained : (a) his 



