THE LAW OF EVOLUTION 



general principles above illustrated, we shall 

 seem for a moment to have got into difficulties. 

 Unavoidably, in using the word Evolution, we 

 have suggested the idea of increase in structural 

 complexity ; and such increase of course implies 

 ,a considerable amount of permanent internal 

 rearrangement as consequent upon the primary 

 process of integration. Yet under the conditions 

 thus far studied, we find that " on the one hand, 

 a large amount of secondary redistribution is 

 possible only where there is a great quantity of 

 contained motion ; and, on the other hand, these 

 redistributions can have permanence only where 

 the contained motion has become small — op- 

 posing conditions which seem to negative any 

 large amount of permanent secondary redistri- 

 bution." We must therefore search for some 

 more peculiar and special combination of con- 

 ditions before we can understand how Evolu- 

 tion may result in great structural complexity. 

 It is in the case of organic bodies " that these 

 apparently contradictory conditions are recon- 

 ciled ; and that, by the reconciliation of them, 

 permanent secondary redistributions immense 

 in extent are made possible." The distinctive 

 peculiarity of organic bodies " consists in the 

 combination of matter into a form embodying 

 an enormous amount of motion at the same 



The statement of the law of evolution, as contained in the 

 first edition, is much less complete and coherent. 

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