THE CONCEPTION OF LIFE 105 



both desire to win their generalizations. The philosopher 

 suffers from the disadvantage that he would like to have a 

 complete system, a coordinate and harmonious explanation 

 of all existence. The naturalist desires this also, but he has 

 more patience and does not expect to reach his goal so 

 quickly, but rejoices every time that he advances a small 

 distance and is able so to order the facts known to him that 

 he can deduce a natural law. The naturalist utilizes hypothe- 

 ses as much as the philosopher. The naturalist's hypothesis 

 is not intended to complete a system of thought, but merely to 

 indicate a way by following which he may discover facts as 

 yet unknown. During our present debate it is very important 

 not to forget the differences between philosophical thinking 

 and scientific investigation. As you might anticipate, I hold 

 the scientific method to be the better and more certain, and 

 therefore cherish, as stated, the opinion that the solution 

 of the great problems of human existence, if it is ever achieved 

 by us, will be accomplished through biology. 



The conception of life is very uncertain, but we are able 

 to place certain foundation stones for the erection of this 

 conception. In other words, biology has already achieved 

 some important generalizations, several of which have been 

 mentioned in the previous lectures. 



At the start, emphasis must be laid on the fact that life 

 is known to us only bound to matter. Only through matter 

 can life express itself, only through matter act upon the world, 

 and only through matter be influenced by the world. As 

 we heard in the first lecture, the minimal amount of living 

 substance, which makes life possible, is relatively great, and 

 probably so great that we can see it with the microscope. 

 I at least regard it as improbable that there are invisible 

 living beings. 



