ADJUSTMENT, DIRECT AND INDIRECT 



tension of the present point, in its philosophic 



tarings, these illustrations will suffice.^ 

 Facts of this kind point to the conclusion 

 fhat an inherent capacity for adaptive changes 

 possessed by all organisms. And by the 



ihrase " inherent capacity " I do not mean to 

 Insinuate the existence of any occulta vis^ or 



letaphysical " innate power," of which no sci- 

 mtific account is to be given in terms of mat- 

 ter and motion. An organism is a complex 

 jystem of forces ; even the simplest living patch 

 >f protoplasm is a highly complex system, but 

 in the higher organisms the complication of 

 Forces is almost infinite, when compared with 

 >ur limited powders of analysis. Now such a 



''Stem of forces must, under penalty of over- 

 throw, maintain both its internal equilibrium 

 md its equilibrium with external incident forces. 



.nd this double maintenance of equilibrium 

 lecessitates a rhythmical redistribution of forces 

 from moment to moment, of which, as was 

 jhown in the chapter on rhythm, the result 



lust be continual change. Now the internal 

 jquilibration of the forces in the organism with 



ich other is generalized in the laws of growth. 



^ [Since the appearance of the discussions of Weissman, the 

 juestions here touched upon by Fiske have assumed wholly 

 lew forms, and have given rise to an immense literature. For 

 Jpencer's later expression and defence of his views, see his 

 ?/jtfji/. Library Edition, vol. i. p. 388-478.] 



L. Ill o I 



