X.] 



ORGANIZATION, • 117 



A very large part of biology, or the science of life,^ Biology, 

 consists, like crystallography, in the description and classi- 

 fication of the forms of various species. Organic species, 

 like crystalline species, exist in groups, and in groups of 

 groups. The description of the forms, both in crystallo- 

 graphy and in biology, constitutes morphology ; and the Morpho- 

 determination of the fundamental relations (which are not °^^" 

 always the obvious ones) between the forms is the problem 

 of classification. Biology, like crystallography, is thus a 

 classificatory science. 



It appears to be the opinion of many, that questions of 

 classification are merely questions of names, and conse- 

 quently of no true scientific importance. They think that 

 the expression true classification is without meaning, and 

 that a classification win serve every purpose that it possibly 

 can serve, if it is only generally agreed on, so as to prevent 

 confusion in the use of names ; and intelligible, so as to 

 make reference easy. According to this view, the question 

 whether a whale is a fish or a mammal, and whether a 

 barnacle is a mollusc or a crustacean, are questions of 

 words only, not of realities ; though some words or names 

 may be more conveniently applicable than others. 



The fallacy, or rather the inadequacy, of this notion is Import- 

 not easy to prove in any demonstrative form : and it must ciassifica- 

 suf&ce here to assert, that every one who has experience of ^o"- 

 the study of any science whatever to which the classifica- 

 tory method is applicable, becomes convinced, if he was 

 not so at the commencement, that true classification is one 

 of the greatest possible helps to knowledge, and inaccurate 

 classification one of the greatest possible hindrances. 



True classification may be defined as classification ac- Its basis 

 cording to the resemblances and differences of i\iQfunda-^'^^^^^' 



of a group may be enumerated in various orders. The different oxides 

 of a metal, for instance, which are formed by the successive addition 

 of equivalents of oxygen, form a series. 



1 I intend to use this word throughout. "We need a word that shall 

 apply to the life of animals and of vegetables alike, and that shall include 

 both morphology, or the science of organic forms, and physiology, or the 

 science of vital functions. I do not know who first coiaed the word, but 

 it is used by Comte in his Positive Philosophy. 



