10 THE PHENOMENON OF 



development advances as far as the terminal blossom, the 

 plant approaches one step nearer the formation of the 

 flower. Neither are the individuals of the same species 

 exactly alike ; and the capability of developing certain 

 sets of varieties testifies the developmental power of the 

 species, even within the restriction to the specific type. 



We cannot, therefore, ignore a certain relation to the 

 development of the great whole, even in those phenomena 

 of Rejuvenescence which continue the series of individuals 

 in what seems a mere repetition of the like. This rela- 

 tion speaks most meaningly in the highest region of the 

 whole graduated series of Nature, where the development 

 passes over from the physical into the spiritual. Who 

 would deny the relation of the production of new genera- 

 tions to progressive development, in the field where it 

 lies nearest to us, namely, in the Human Race ? The 

 condition of humanity in this respect falls within the 

 sphere of our contemplation, for the aim to which the 

 infinite Rejuvenescences throughout all Nature strive, 

 through the attainment of which our period of creation 

 is distinguished from all the ancient epochs, is the very 

 existence of Man, towards whom Nature points, from step 

 to step, ever more distinctly throughout her entire series ; 

 and Man again cannot be considered without that which 

 itself constitutes his humanity, the development oiMind. 

 The development of Mind cannot be separated from its 

 substratum Nature, since although Mind itself is destined 

 to rise victorious over all the obstructions of physical life, 

 it must also penetrate backwards through all the stages 

 of that life, and give them a spiritual signification. 

 Only by starting from this standing point, fixing the 

 aim of the entire development in Nature, can we find the 

 true internal connection of all the gradations of natural 

 life, and by the very conjunction with the course of 

 development of Man, Natural History acquires its highest 

 import. As Nature without Man presents externally 

 only the image of labyrinth without a clue, scientific 

 examination which denies the internal spiritual founda- 



