368 THE BIOCOSMOS PARTICULARIZED. 



fore and from what comes after, though sci- 

 ence is working at bridges on both sides. 



Plant and animal, as we have seen them, 

 are individuals; out of what do they individu- 

 ate? We observe both going back to a form 

 which is common or nearly so and then un- 

 folding into a vast diversity on each line, 

 vegetal and animal; what and whence is this 

 power of individuality which so dominates 

 all Life? It individuates more and more in 

 time, it keeps specifying (or making species). 

 At least we have to say such is the nature of 

 Life, or better, it is Nature herself manifest- 

 ing her separative character, which indeed 

 carries us up again to her very origin. 



Now the scientist deals or has dealt quite 

 exclusively with this living individual, plant 

 or animal, analyzing it into its parts down to 

 cell and even to cellule, and on the other hand 

 synthesizing it in various ways into species, 

 genera, families, etc. His microscope can 

 only see individuals in some form, however 

 small. Now this process of individuation 

 takes place in and through the Earth-life, 

 which has therein its primal function. In 

 what way? This lies beyond scientific proof 

 which, as already said, deals with the living 

 individual as plant or animal. But what if 

 the Earth also with its Life is an individual, 

 source of all other living individuals? The 



