Prof. Le Conte as See?i Through His Biological Work. 221 



applied, of the highest human architecture ? In the best spec- 

 imens of Gothic architecture — e. g., how often do we find the 

 same elementary form repeated ad iyifiyiiieum ^ under various 

 disguises, according to the functions of the several parts. 

 * * * Is not this differentiation of simple elementary form 

 and specialization of function? Is it not the mutual and har- 

 monious dependence of parts which constitutes true organic 

 unity? Is it not organization? Is it not life? We believe 

 that this idea of organic unity is the basis of all art." 



Likewise, an analysis of his numerous papers on the rela- 

 tion of biology to sociology will show the same thing: A 

 setting forth of the data and conceptions and methods of bio- 

 logical science first; then the application of these to the sci- 

 ence of huniaa society. 



I must not dwell further on this matter. It will suflSce 

 for the present to point out that of the 340 pages constituting 

 the volume on "Evolution and Its Relation to Religious 

 Thought," 250 are a treatise on organic evolution, pure and 

 simple. 



The preponderance of his early training distinctly on the 

 side of biology; possessed of so strong a predilection for phil- 

 osophical contemplation of the phenomena of life, and such 

 sympathy for it as it manifests itself in human kind, the ques- 

 tion inevitably arises, why did he choose to make geology 

 rather than biology his central concern ? 



It should be observed that the decision could not have rested 

 in this instance as in many another on the ground of the mere 

 circumstance of a position for winning a livelihood; for each 

 of the college professorships he was called to fill at various 

 times during his life included, like that in our own Uni- 

 versity, the two sciences on an equal footing. 



He has told us that it was his meeting with James Hall, 

 for many years Chief of the New York State Geological Sur- 

 vey, that was the immediate influence in turning him to 

 geology. But there must have been something deeper than 

 mere contact with a man; deeper than an}^ exterior influence, 



