SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—D. 395 
retardation, self-adaptation, saltation, continuity of germ plasm; paleontology 
confirms nine of these principles and recognises with Weismann that they are primarily 
germinal or ‘ geneplasmic ’ phenomena. 
Through intensive study of phyla extending over millions of years, paleontology 
reveals (1869-1931) nine additional principles which may be prefixed with the term 
phylo-, namely: mutation of Waagen, mutations-richtung of Neumayr, acceleration 
and retardation of Hyatt, continuity of evolution, potentiality, predetermination, 
rectigradation, “ aristogenesis.’ : 
To the palzontologist in search of causation, what relation do Principles 1-11 bear 
to Principles 12-20? If there is invariable antecedence and consequence, as assumed 
by Lamarckians, Principles 1-11 would inevitably precede 12-20; such antecedence 
and consequence are not observed. The sum of these principles is as follows :— 
BIOMECHANICAL ADAPTATION IN ONTOGENY. 
1. Biomechanical onto-retrogression (Aristotle), degeneration, atrophy. 
> 2 ss progression aA development, hypertrophy. 
8 : 3 fe +, compensation zs metatrophy and eutrophy. 
2 4 ‘., 5» economy = sS mt 
B| 4 5 73 »» proportioning (Lamarck-Darwin), change of proportion 
am (allometry Osborn). 
= 2 6, A co-adaptation (St. Hilaire), co-ordination, correlation. 
38 7 + onto-acceleration (v. Baer) of organs into earlier growth 
o stages. 
eB z 8 ae », retardation (v. Baer) of organs into later growth stages. 
fees *G r », adaptation (Goethe) through principles 1-8. 
A 10 fr », saltalion (St. Hilaire), sports, discontinuity. 
11 % continuity of germ plasm (Weismann). 
BIOMECHANICAL ADAPTATION IN PHYLOGENY. 
b 12. Biomechanical phylo-mutation (Waagen, 1869), orthogenesis. 
19g 13. a »» | mutations-richtung ’ (Neumayr) (trend). 
S's 14. ef +, acceleration (Hyatt, 1880) in the evolution of organs. 
Be 15. 3 », retardation (Hyatt, 1880) in the evolution of organs. 
BA 16. of +» continuity (Osborn, 1906-31) vs. discontinuity. 
& ey >. ,», potentiality (Osborn, 1906-31) in the origin of new 
aa biocharacters. 
= 18. “ »» predetermination (Osborn, 1906-31) in the origin of 
oq new biocharacters. 
$4 19. 55 », rectigradation (Osborn, 1906-31) in the origin of new 
gH , biocharacters. 
2 20. a », aristogenesis (Osborn, 1906-31) in the rise of organisms. 
Paleontology is the two-edged sword of Biology; it cuts hypotheses unfit to 
survive ; it strengthens hypotheses fit to survive. It calls for conceptions of a new 
and physico-chemical order to supplant outworn hypotheses dating back to 
Empedocles (600 38.c.). It disestablishes the ‘entelechy-vitalism’ of Aristotle 
(300 B.c.) and establishes his ‘ firm and undeviating order of Nature.’ It establishes 
the ‘direct action of environment ’ (Buffon, 1755-Wagner, 1870). It disestablishes the 
habit-inheritance law of E. Darwin and Lamarck (1790-1809) and establishes 
habit, through onto-adaptation, as a guiding principle in evolution. It disestablishes 
the third and fourth principles of C. Darwin (1859) and establishes selection as a 
universal and outstanding principle from the beginning of time. It firmly establishes 
the “ W. Mutations ’ of Waagen (1869). It establishes the ‘ continuity of germ plasm ’ 
and the ‘separateness of somaplasm’ of Weismann (1880). It disestablishes the 
hyper-selection of the neo-Darwinians. It exeludes entirely from biomechanical 
evolution the ‘ D. Mutations’ of De Vries. In its earliest as well as its latest phases 
paleontology undermines the primitive idea of created evolution; of recent years it 
firmly establishes creative evolution or ‘ aristogenesis.’ 
Discusston on Evolution (following previous communications). 
