iv MECHANISM AND TELEOLOGY 311 



independence of the whole, but its reaction, say, to any 

 given stimulus is, from the first, determined by its position 

 as a constituent of the whole. This appears to be what is 

 properly meant by an organic as distinct from a mechanical 

 process, arid if this is so, organic unity appears as the limit 

 of a mechanical adjustment of interacting parts to the 

 maintenance of some common process or the furtherance 

 of some common end. In proportion as mechanical adjust- 

 ment becomes comprehensive and immediate it approaches 

 the organic character. It could reach it only at the point 

 where the succession of cause and effect, as between part and 

 part, merges into the simultaneity of a consentaneous whole. 

 A whole in which the reaction of each part not merely sets 

 up further reactions which return upon it, but is itself 

 determined by its bearing on the whole, is a true organic 

 unity. 



But how is this determination effected? In the whole 

 A, B, C ... the reaction of any element is to be determined 

 by the requirements of the whole. It has to be, let us say a. 

 Now as long as we looked on A, B, C as a mechanical 

 system, we could see a method by which, notwithstanding 

 variation of circumstances, this result might be brought 

 about. We conceived a quick series of interactions whereby 

 A giving the reaction to a' affected B, which by the reaction 

 /3' reflected on a' and reduced it to a. We conceived two 

 separately centred but rapidly interweaving processes, and 

 we could increase the rapidity and closeness of interaction 

 at pleasure. As we do so the action of each part is more 

 and more closely determined by the consequent action of 

 the residue. At the limit it is so determined from the 

 first, i.e. the action of the part is as such conditioned by 

 actions of the residue which it itself sets up. The limiting, 

 correcting, activity of this residue is now operative in the 

 actions of the part itself from the first. But this is as 

 much as to say that the action of any part of an organic 

 whole is action conditioned by its result, i.e. is teleological. 



Now it may be said that the action of the part is not 

 determined by the reactions of the remainder, but that the 

 part is such that under any given circumstances its action 

 will be adapted to the requirements of the organism. In any 



