science and pervades the whole domain of life. Goette 

 observes that Darwin spoke of useful, less useful and in- 

 different organisms, by which he meant those adaptations 

 destined for particular vital functions which tend to make 

 the organs more and more specialized. Since the ability to 

 live is threatened by this specialization it cannot be pur- 

 posive. This is not wholly true, because the more special- 

 ized the individual organ becomes, the more perfect is 

 the whole organism which is composed of these specialized 

 organs. The functions of the individual organ may be 

 restricted, but the power of the entire organism is notably 

 increased, according to the law of the division of labor. 

 Goette therefore has not sufficient grounds for rejecting 

 this expression. He considers that a real and permanent 

 purpose for the individual living forms is out of the ques- 

 tion, but that this purpose may be sought for in the de- 

 velopment and history of the collective life of nature. 

 Definitely ordered variation, he thinks, a scientific explana- 

 tion of which is indeed yet forthcoming, will explain adap- 

 tation equally as well as does selection. After what has 

 been said this statement of Goette must come as a sur- 

 l)rise, for one would think that according to his view 

 definite variation explains adaptations better than selection. 

 Goette sums up his main conclusion in the following 

 words: "The doctrine of Heredity or of Descent, which 

 comes from Lamarck though it was first made widely 

 known by Darwin, has since continually gained a broader 

 and surer foundation. But Darwin's own doctrine re- 



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