Ontogenetic and Mnemonic Phenomena 315 



which would be at the same time the basis of both the 

 phenomenon of heredity and the mnemonic phenomenon. 

 So that these latter instead of being explained by each 

 other, would both be explained by this single phenome- 

 non, more simple and more general than either. 



So it will be worth while for us, in the last chapter 

 which follows this, to subject the mnemonic phenomenon 

 to a rapid examination in order to see if it likewise 

 really finds an adequate explanation in this supposed 

 elementary biological phenomenon of a specific accumu- 

 lation of energy. And then we shall examine more 

 closely the question whether this same hypothetical ele- 

 mentary phenomenon cannot at the same time explain 

 at least partially the fundamental properties of the vital 

 phenomenon itself in all its generality. 



