LIFE AND THE COSMOS 27Q 



manner, cosmic and biological evolution are 

 one. In short, we appear to be led to t he 

 assumption that the genetic or evolutionary 

 processes, both cosmic and biological, when 

 considered in certain aspects, constitute a 

 single orderly development thai yields results 

 not merely contingent, but resembling those 

 which in human action we recognize as pur- 

 poseful. For, undeniably, two things which 

 are related together in a complex manner by 

 reciprocal fitness make up in a very real sense 

 a unit, — something quite different from the 

 two alone, or the sum of the two, or the re- 

 lationship between the two. 1 In human af- 

 fairs such a unit arises only from the effective 

 operation of purpose. 



Now it is most clearly evident from the 

 experience of centuries that ordinary teleoloirv 

 is dangerous doctrine in science, and in the 

 past, accidents apart, it has been invariably 

 sterile. 2 A statement that the legs have 

 been formed for the purpose of locomotion, 

 no doubt possesses scientific validity, if it be 

 properly interpreted. But the real scientific 

 concern is for the bones and muscles, the 



1 This appears logically to correspond with the "schOp- 

 ferische Synthese" of Wuixlt. 



2 Interesting discussions bearing upon flu's lubjed will 

 be found in Pearson's well-known "Grammar of Science." 



