16 Continuous genesis without heredity 



In place then of the mnumerable individu- 

 als a certain genealogical ascent has succes- 

 sively entailed, let us imagine one individual 

 accomplishing the whole of it. The final 

 result as regards structure might conceivably 

 be substantially the same, nor need the time 

 required be very different. But there would 

 certainly be one very important difference. 

 For the solitary immortal without ancestry 

 structure would be wholly the result of 

 function. But for the many mortals — who 

 have a racial history as well as a personal 

 history — function would be the result of 

 structure, so far, that is, as the embryonic 

 stage of their existence is concerned. To 

 this stage Haeckel accordingly gave the name 

 of palingenesis ; because in it the structural 

 acquisitions of our imaginary immortal are 

 recapitulated. But whereas the same level 

 of development might have been attained in 



