29 

 into the target (ZIEL), regardless of the purpose (ZWECK)." 



Therefore, for natural phenomena, Baer proposed to use the 



expressions ZIEL, ZIELSTREBIG, ZIELSTREBIGKEIT instead of 



ZWECK, ZWECKMASSIG, ZWECKMASSIGKEIT, as the first 



expressions are free of that shade of meaning which expresses 



the adoption of a conscious decision. 



These considerations Baer illustrated by the following 

 example: "In saying that the new-laid egg has the purpose to 

 be a hen, I can be asked how. Is there in it a creature 

 possessing creative powers and will? If it is also stated 

 that this egg is predetermined to form a chicken, then with 

 this all will agree, because it is known that the egg is 

 formed in a natural way and possesses an ability of necessity 

 to form a chicken, of course given the suitable temperature."-^ 

 The presence of a definite direction of development, predeter- 

 mined by the structure of the egg, Baer called the final end 

 (ZIEL), and did not mean here conscious purpose, when actually 

 there is no sense in searching for it, neither in the yolk nor 

 in the albumin. The purpose (ZWECK) , in his opinion, must be 

 sought in much earlier stages, in the ability of organic bodies 

 to give rise to new individuals of the same species. Baer 

 designated final goal (ZIEL) not only as the result of 

 activity, the end towards which something moves (in the present 

 case, transformation at the time of development) , but he meant 

 the forced necessity which acts in a definite direction. 



In the article "Uber Zieletrebigkeit in den organischen 

 Kdrpern," Baer returned to definite concepts. He wrote: 

 "ZWECK is a consciously determined task, ZIEL is the given 

 direction of the action; ZWECK is the source of freedom, 

 ZIEL is an outlined success which may be achieved by means of 

 necessity. If we apply this understanding to nature, then 

 naturally we cannot attribute to it any purpose (ZWECK) ; 

 however, it is unconditionally impossible to disclaim trend 

 or direction. Each organism in the process of formation is 

 characterized by a direction and a final goal (ZIEL) of 

 this process. "31 



29. Baer, "Uber den Zweck," p. 186. 



30. Ibid ., £. 83. 



31. Baer, "Uber Zielstrebigkeit, " p. 180. 



501 



