30 THE PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 



mysterious and supernatural way. This is quite 

 a mistaken view, and in accordance with Christian 

 philosophy we ought to think of these laws of evolu- 

 tion in the following way. In the first place, they 

 comprise the chemical and physical properties of 

 the organic elements and the original mechanical 

 constellations of living atoms, as ordained by the 

 Creator at the production of the primitive types. 

 From these constellations arise certain definite 

 tendencies of evolution, which may be further in- 

 fluenced by the reciprocal action of other groups 

 of atoms. In the second place, I agree with Driesch, 

 Reinke, and other modern vitalists in thinking 

 that, if we are to attain to a perfect explanation 

 of the phenomena of life from its first manifestation, 

 we must still accept formal principles of the type 

 of the Aristotelian entelechies. We have not as 

 yet any chemical and physical formula which 

 explains life satisfactorily and finally. Scientists 

 hope that at some future time an explanation may 

 be found, but I believe this hope is unlikely to be 

 realised. What we call life is something quite 

 different from all the material chemical and physical 

 processes which are subordinate to the functions 

 of life. Natural science therefore compels us to 

 assume certain formal principles, which are not 

 makeshifts meddling with material energy, nor 

 do they disturb the permanence of the law of energy ; 

 they simply direct the lower energies, quicken 

 to life the atoms hitherto dead by absorbing them 



