LIFE'S GENESIS. 77 



in the original inorganic element whence it 

 arose. All organic bodies have this fate of 

 death and dust hung over them from birth. 

 Such a transition, the end of the organism, is 

 but a stage of the larger Earth-life, which is 

 perpetually individualizing and re-vitalizing 

 its non- vital part, this being much the greater, 

 as already said. 



Thus we may well affirm both kinds of gen- 

 eration inorganic and organic each within 

 its sphere. Biogenesis rules inside the round 

 of the individual Life, of Plant and Animal; 

 Abiogenesis cannot be eliminated from Life 

 conceived as a totality, from the Earth-life in 

 its completeness. All three forms of vital 

 manifestation Plant, Animal, Earth must 

 be considered in the Biocosmos, which treats 

 them separately, as well as in their process 

 together. 



It is, therefore, highly improbable that the 

 transition from Unlife to Life took place 

 just once (or perchance a few times) on our 

 Earth many millions of years ago, and that 

 since then Life has proceeded by its own in- 

 ner evolution. Science thus seems to be tak- 

 ing its cue from its old enemy, Theology, 

 which makes all living things originate pri- 

 marily by divine fiat. Interesting still, as 

 showing the aspiration of science, is the at- 

 tempt of Bastian to reach the true archebiosis 



