188 THE BIOCOSMOS PARTICULARIZED. 



thing has a material form, an inorganic sub- 

 strate which it organizes. We can say that in 

 a degree it is crystallized into its typical 

 form, which however is not pure material 

 form like a crystal, but has Life; this moves 

 its form with a certain mastery, it sustains 

 and rebuilds the same, finally it generates the 

 same as another individual. The crystal is 

 accordingly endowed with a certain formative 

 spontaneity (a kind of will in Nature again) 

 over lifeless matter, itself remaining lifeless, 

 though formed. But this formative power of 

 the crystal goes over into Life, which, how- 

 ever, employs the same to its own end, so that 

 vital forms are not those of the crystal. Here, 

 too, we ask what is and whence comes such 

 form-giving energy which can make matter 

 move into a shape, but not yet into a living 

 shape. The crystal, accordingly, we may con- 

 ceive as pointing the way to Life, though not 

 yet alive, a stage of Unlif e which strives to be 

 alive. 



The living Form cannot stay merely Form, 

 but must assimilate sustenance from its en- 

 vironment, and keep on assimilating. A con- 

 tinual re-making of itself from the external 

 world is the prime function of this Form, 

 which never stops being formed unless it 

 somehow gets crystallized, like a piece of fos- 

 sil wood. This is the ceaseless round of As- 



