AIM AND PROGHESS OP PHYSICAL SCIENCE. 385 



of the vital processes with the actions of a principle 

 actino: like a soul. In the whole external world we know 

 of but one series of phenomena possessing similar 

 characteristics, we mean the actions and deeds of an 

 intelligent human being ; and we must allow that in 

 innumerable instances the organic adaptability appears to 

 be so extraordinarily superior to the capacities of the 

 human intelligence that we might feel disposed to ascribe 

 to it a higher rather than a lower character. 



Before the time of Darwin only two theories respect- 

 ing organic adaptability were in vogue, both of which 

 pointed to the interference of free intelligence in the 

 course of natural processes. On the one hand it was 

 held, in accordance with the vitalistic theory, that the 

 vital processes were continuously directed by a living 

 soul ; or, on the other, recourse was had to an act of 

 supernatural intelligence to account for the origin of 

 every living species. The latter view indeed supposes 

 that the causal connection of natural phenomena had been 

 broken less often, and allows of a strict scientific examina- 

 tion of the processes observable in the species of human 

 beings now existing ; but even it is not able to entirely 

 explain away those exceptions to the law of causality, 

 and consequently it enjoyed no considerable favour as 

 opposed to the vitalistic view, which was powerfully 

 supported, by apparent evidence, that is, by the natural 

 desire to find similar causes behind similar phenomena. 



Darwin's theory contains an essentially new creative 

 thought. It shows how adaptability of structure in 

 organisms can result from a blind rule of a law 

 of natiu'e without any intervention of intelligence. I 

 allude to the law of transmission of individual pecu- 

 liarities from parent to offspring, a law long known 

 and recognised, and only needing a «iore precise defi- 

 nition. If both parents have individual peculiarities 



