ON LIFE AND ORGANISATION. 297 



when it lias readied a muscular fibre, induces its contraction 

 — also a physical act. 



In the present phase of science, it would be unphilosophi- 

 cal, and could not be admitted by the physicist, even as a 

 hypothesis, were we to state directly that a psychical power 

 and a physical force can act and react on one another. But, 

 with such facts as I have already adduced, a mutual influence 

 of some kind must be admitted. I am strongly impressed 

 with the belief that on the cautious and philosophical inves- 

 tigation of this mutual influence depends the future elucida- 

 tion of the peculiarities of organisation. At present I prefer 

 stating the relation between the psyche and its organism as one 

 of co-ordination. Its actual nature we shall probably never 

 determine ; its laws we may presume to be within our reach. 



I would here observe that the extent and nature of my 

 subject, and the limits within which I am confined, have 

 compelled me to state my views in a somewhat dogmatic 

 style. To have treated it satisfactorily, the opinions of at 

 least the principal philosophers and physiologists of ancient 

 and modern times should have been adduced and examined 

 in reference to the more important subjects discussed.* In the 

 meantime, I will merely state, categorically, the views which 

 I have endeavoured to embody in this lecture, in order that 

 there may be no misconception regarding them. 



Every living organised body — that is, every individual 

 plant and animal, according to its kind or species — contains, 

 or is contained in, a psyche ; which is not a mere co-ordinated 

 system of material forces, but a distinct essence, the source, 

 more particularly, of the psychical manifestations. 



We are alike ignorant of the mode in which matter acts 

 on matter, as of the mode in wliicli mind ;md matter react. 

 As, however, we do know that mind does act on matter, and 

 conversely — as in the instances of the will inducing physical 



* Note VIII. p. 322. 



