6 THE UNFATHOMED UNIVERSE 



absolutism. Yet the old order changed, giving place to a 

 new the whole inorganic world was more and more com- 

 pletely and consistently analysed in terms of dynamics. 



In regard to the realm of organisms also the outlook 

 changed. The filiations of living creatures were discovered 

 and the special creationists retreated before the evolutionists. 

 It was shown that the living body is the theatre of many 

 chemical and physical operations in a line with those of the 

 inorganic domain. The chains of physiological events that 

 make up everyday functions and behaviour were disclosed. 

 Plants and animals were brought under the reign of law. 

 The fitnesses or adaptations which seemed to speak so elo- 

 quently of a direct Designer were shown to be the outcome 

 of long-continued processes of varying and sifting. And 

 when Man's zoological place in Nature was recognised, the 

 anthropocentric theory saw the beginning of its end. Even 

 for those who continue to maintain, rightly we think, that 

 organism is more than mechanism, that organic evolution 

 is not a mechanical process, that thinking, feeling, and 

 willing are activities that count, that man transcends his 

 ancestry, and that it is not only legitimate but necessary 

 to regard the cosmic process in the light of its outcome 

 the whole aspect of the world has changed. 



But experience is the only limit to the application of 

 scientific methods, and a new psychology began to accom- 

 pany the new physiology, rather at the risk of its own life, 

 to be sure, because of its partner's appetite. The outlook 

 was changed by the disclosure of the close interdependence 

 of what is conveniently called l mind ' and what is con- 

 veniently called ' body ', by increased knowledge of the 

 individual development and racial evolution of mental 

 powers or modes of behaviour, by a disclosure of a certain 



