214 HAECKEL 



this side there is only one way to proceed — the 

 mathematical. 



I study them with strictly mathematical figures. 

 I determine their axes, and the mathematical 

 aspects of their forms. Possibly that will give 

 a practical result ; the only kind of artificial system 

 that can be accommodated with the Darwinian 

 theory, and perhaps render it assistance by the 

 sharpness of its lines. Does it answer ? Take a 

 crystal, a specimen from inorganic morphology. 

 The description of it is susceptible of a strictly 

 mathematical form. Now take a star-fish, a worm, 

 a human being. We find that even these organic 

 structures have a mysterious relation at bottom 

 to certain mathematical, stereometric forms. We 

 might almost say, to certain forms of human 

 thought. Everything in the organic world is in a 

 state of flux. But through the whole moving 

 stream we can trace the outline of one stable 

 element, something like a mathematical idea. A 

 sort of Platonism of the living forms vaguely takes 

 shape. 



Haeckel speaks of lines, axes, circles, radii, and 

 all kinds of rhythmic structures. It does seem that 

 the countless individual forms of living things fit 

 into a scheme of a limited number of mathematical 

 forms. Strictly speaking this is not a real mor- 

 phology of living things. We only find these clear 

 and rigid forms schematically in the wild profu- 

 sion of forms of the protists, plants, and animals. 

 They are only a reminiscence of the laws of the 

 purely inorganic, which the eye of the observer 



