CONTENTS. Vli 



CHAPTER VI. 

 Is LIFE UNIVERSAL? 



PAGE 



Assumption that Life cannot be understood Its Basis 

 Difficulty increased by the Connection of Bodily Life and 

 Consciousness Necessity for Dividing the Problem Re- 

 capitulation Instance in the Growth of the Seed The 

 Force received from the Inorganic World restored to the 

 same Relation of Nutrition and Function They are the 

 same Fact, oppositely regarded Our Relation to Nature 

 Organic Life another Form of that which is in the In- 

 -qrjganic Analogy to a Machine What is Life? Idea of a 

 Vital Principle or Entity Views of Coleridge" Principle 

 of Individuation " Organic Life constituted by a limiting 

 of the Forces of Nature The Body an Instrument 

 Links which Unite all Nature The Living not derived 

 from the Dead Is Nature wholly Living? Physical Life 

 a Living Relation of Unliving Parts, or Atoms Analogy 

 of the Groups of Stars Comparison of Chemical Affinity 

 and Gravity " Organization of the Heavens " Cosmos 

 The Unity of Nature General View of the Subjects 

 Discussed Are like Riddles to Exercise and Develop 

 our Powers? Lord Bacon The Divine Spirit teaching us 

 as in Play . .... 125 



CHAPTER VII. 

 THE LIVING WORLD. 



Further Results of the preceding Ideas Is not Life denied by 

 them? Its Identification with Mechanical and Chemical 

 Forces, even if demonstrable, not satisfactory Key fur- 

 nished by the Doctrine that we perceive only Phenomena 

 Life only seems to be Mechanical Liberty given to our 

 Emotions by this Doctrine respecting our Perception and 

 Knowledge Life to be interpreted and known by the 

 Moral Nature The True Problem it presents Belongs 

 not merely to the Intellectual, but to the Moral Sphere 

 The Physical is the Appearance to us of the Spiritual 

 The Law of Least Resistance, what its true Significance 

 is Bearing on the Inorganic World 156 



