126 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



process from dynamic to vital action is found to be 

 inscrutable by science ; if every explanation that pro- 

 fesses to set out the transition fails, we are thrown 

 back on the inquiry, Is physical science adequate to 

 the explanation of all knowable things ? Do the 

 principles of dynamics cover and elucidate all the 

 phenomena of concrete existence ? How if the origin 

 of life lie in something outside dynamic law ? if 

 the behaviour of matter according to dynamic law be 

 not all that is in the phenomenon ? if we are here 

 face to face with another mode of being ? Or, to 

 put it more nearly after the fashion of Mr. Spencer's 

 philosophy, in a supposition equally thinkable with 

 that adopted by him and equally scientific, vegetal 

 life may at the fitting moment have arisen out of the 

 depths of the inscrutable power. The existence of an 

 incomprehensible actuality having been postulated as 

 .an ultimate datum of consciousness, we are not charge- 

 able with following an unphilospohic method if we see 

 appearing in the first beginning of life a new mani- 

 festation of that " absolute Reality by which the rela- 

 tive reality is immediately produced.* 



In like manner, the beginning of sentient life pre- 

 sents an inexplicable problem to science endeavouring 

 to solve it by means of dynamic principles. The life 

 of the animal, like that of the plant, arose when 

 physical conditions suitable for its continuance ex- 



* First Principles, 50. 



