Introduction xv 



fashioned, assembled, or selected by the beings for a pur- 

 pose, so they have a future ■purpose, as well as a past 

 history. " Things at large " have a past history, but no 

 purpose (so long as some being does not convert them 

 into tools and give them a purpose) : Machines have a 

 Why ? as well as a How ? : " things at large " have a 

 How ? only. 



In " Unconscious Memory " the allurements of unitary 

 or monistic views have gained the upper hand, and Butler 

 writes (p. 23) : — 



" The only thing of which I am sure is, that the distinction 

 between the organic and inorganic is arbitrary ; that it is 

 more coherent with our other ideas, and therefore more 

 acceptable, to start with every molecule as a living thing, 

 and then deduce death as the breaking up of an association 

 or corporation, than to start with inanimate molecules and 

 smuggle life into them ; and that, therefore, what we call 

 the inorganic world must be regarded as up to a certain point 

 living, and instinct, within certain limits, with consciousness, 

 volition, and power of concerted action. It is only of late, 

 however,_ that I have come to this opinion." 



I have italicised the last sentence, to show that Butler 

 was more or less conscious of its irreconcilability with 

 much of his most characteristic doctrine. Again, in the 

 closing chapter, Butler writes (p. 275) : — 



" We should endeavour to see the so-called inorganic as 

 living in respect of the qualities it has in common with the 

 organic, rather than the organic as non-living in respect of 

 the qualities it has in common with the inorganic." 



We conclude our survey of this book by mentioning the 

 literary controversial part chiefly to be found in Chapter IV, 

 but cropping up elsewhere. It refers to interpolations 

 made in the authorised translation of Krause's " Life of 

 Erasmus Darwin." Only one side is presented ; and we 

 are not called upon, here or elsewhere, to discuss the 

 merits of the question. 



" LUCK, OR CUNNING, as the Main Means of Organic 



