362 THE BIOCOSMOS PARTICULARIZED. 



re-constitution. Still something besides chem- 

 ism is needed for making and re-making life. 

 It is agreed that spontaneous generation from 

 inorganic matter has hardly yet taken place 

 within any limits now perceptible; still many 

 a scientist holds it as necessary postulate of 

 Evolution. For if our planet was once flung 

 off as a fragment of fire-mist from the sun, 

 it must have become alive much later. But 

 how? Whatever else may be affirmed, the 

 Inorganic must have turned to the Organic. 

 Furthermore, is this process still going on? 

 It has not yet been scientifically detected in 

 spite of many adroit attempts. But such a 

 postulate is also necessary; it is absurd to 

 think that just so much life-stuff was evolved 

 from Unlife somewhere and at some time on 

 our planet just once for all, and that then 

 this protoplasmic material was left to its own 

 Evolution, which has been continuing ever 

 since. Surely that original transition from 

 the Inorganic to the Organic is still a neces- 

 sary part or stage of the life-process of the 

 Earth, even if it yet awaits the sight of the 

 scientific eye. 



It would seem that Earth-life alone can 

 individuate the living thing, can start the 

 vital organism on its career even as self- 

 generative. For the aphorism of science, 

 omne vivum ex vivo, calls secretly for the 



