LIFE'S GENESIS. 73 



announced by science, of course, with consid- 

 erable difference in the number of years. 

 Then comes the question : How did it begin ? 

 One scientist has suggested that Life was 

 originally brought to our globe from the out- 

 side, by a falling meteorite perchance. This 

 view (if it be not a joke) leaves the vital 

 starting point where it was. Then there is 

 the theory of special creation, which need not 

 trouble us further. Still again rises the view 

 that the origin of life, the origin of the world, 

 the origin of man, are inexplicable, unknow- 

 able ; that origin itself is a contradictory con- 

 ception and had better be dropped from our 

 thought. Darwin, who wrote the Origin of 

 Species, particularly disclaims any knowl- 

 edge of the Origin of Life. 



StiH the biologist has to treat what he 

 calls Biogenesis (the genesis of Life), if this 

 be not indeed the dominating theme of his 

 science. Two theories have hitherto been held 

 in this field. The one maintains that every 

 living thing springs from an antecedent 

 individual which is alive; it requires Life to 

 beget Life. Such a view always presupposes 

 the vital individual. Still the mind must 

 query, how did the primal living thing get 

 to be! But science on tbo wiiole shuns this 

 question for many people flic really vital 



