LIVING rOKMS. THE LAW OF FORM. 115 



two hands are pressed together, each mutually resists 

 the other. Thus we of course include the impulse 

 of the moving body among the resistances to be con- 

 sidered, and the axiom assumes the utmost logical 

 completeness. An opposing resistance deflects or 

 changes motion, or is overcome by it, according as 

 it is greater or less than the resistance to such 

 change presented by the motion itself. For the force 

 of that motion clearly becomes a resistance in rela- 

 tion to such change or deflection. 



So much it has been necessary to say with respect 

 to the general proposition, to make clear its bearing 

 in respect to those obvious motions with which we 

 can best deal in thought. The argument is precisely 

 the same in respect to those minute motions of par- 

 ticles in which the growth of living bodies consists. 

 These also are determined by the same necessity, and 

 take place equally in the direction of least resistance. 

 Organic form, therefore, is the result of motion in 

 the direction of least resistance : the proposition is 

 absolute, and though first revealed by observation, is 

 independent of it. 



This general form of the proposition has the ad- 



82 



