160 Life and Matter [chap. ix. 



realise and admit that the laws of Physical 

 Science are incomplete^ when regarded as a 

 formulation and philosophical summary of 

 the universe in general. No Laplacian 

 calculator can be supplied with all the 

 data. 



On a stagnant and inactive world life 

 would admittedly be powerless : it could 

 only make dry bones stir in such a world if 

 itself were a form of energy ; I do not 

 suppose for a moment that it could be 

 incarnated on such a world ; it is only 

 potent where inorganic energy is mechanic- 

 ally " available " to use Lord Kelvin's term, 

 that is to say, is either potentially or 

 actually in process of transfer and trans- 

 formation. In other words, life can 

 generate no trace of energy, it can only 

 guide its transmutations. 



It has gradually dawned upon me that 

 the reason why Philosophers who are well 

 acquainted with Physical or Dynamical 

 Science are apt to fall into the error of 

 supposing that mental and vital interference 



