LIFE AND THE COSMOS 



doubtedly owe to their common origin the 

 fact that they are complementary to each other 

 in certain aspects, but which are none the less 

 mutually incompatible and antagonistic." ■ 



The contention of Bergson may be divided 

 into two parts: a statement of belief in an 

 original impetus, and his biological argu- 

 ments in favor of such a view. The former, 

 in so far as it is a question exclusively of an 

 original impetus, appears to lie outside the 

 scope of science, in company with speculations 

 upon the origin of the universe; the latter, 

 because it deals with the subject-matter of 

 science, is open to scientific criticism, and from 

 the standpoint of the biologist is certainly 

 far from conclusive. 2 



Bergson's hypothesis is, however, in es- 

 sence not less vitalistic than that of Driescli. 

 Both philosophers assume the existence of a 

 special vital characteristic, and explain the 

 course which evolution has taken as a result 

 of it. In short, modern vitalism consist^ 

 in postulating a directive tendency which 

 manifests itself in or through the organism 

 alone, and is peculiar to life. 



1 Ibid., p. 103. 



2 In fact, until the mechanistic operation «>f Bergson'a 

 impetus can be clearly perceived, it must remain scientifically 

 an unsound hypothesis. 



