rgies
associated with the gases and relics of the decaying body. Thus the
matter looks a little different when Sir Oliver comes to 'challenge
him to say by what right he gives that answer.' He gives it on this
plain right, that _science always finds these inorganic energies to
reappear on the dissolution of life_, and has never in a single
instance found the slightest reason to suspect (if we make an
exception for the moment of psychical research) that the vital
force as such has continued to exist."

The italics are mine. A little further on he continues:--

"There is no serious scientific demur to Haeckel's assumption of a
monism of the physical world, and his identification of vital force
with ordinary physical and chemical forces.

"Sir Oliver seems to admit, indeed, that the vital force is not in
its nature distinct from physical force, but holds that it needs
'guidance.'"

"On all sides we hear the echo of Professor Le Conte's words:
'Vital force may now be regarded as so much force withdrawn from
the general fund of chemical and physical forces.'"

Very well then, here is no conflict on a matter of opinion or
philosophic speculation, but divergence on a downright question of
scientific fact (let it be noted that I do not wish to hold Professor
Haeckel responsible for these utterances of his disciple: he must
surely know better), and I wish to oppose the fallacy in the strongest
terms.

If it were true that vital energy turned into or was anyhow convertible
into inorganic energy, if it were true that a dead body had more
inorganic energy than a live one, if it were true that "these inorganic
energies" always or ever "reappear on the dissolution of life," then
undoubtedly _cadit quaestio_; life would immediately be proved to be a
form of energy, and would enter into the scheme of physics. But
inasmuch as all this is untrue--the direct contrary of the truth--I
maintain that life is _not_ a form of energy, that it is _not_ included
in our present physical categories, that its explanation is still to
seek. And I have further stated--though there I do not dogmatise--that
it appears to me to belong to a separate order of existence, which
interacts with this material frame of things, and, while there, exerts
guidance and control on the energy which already here exists (_cf._ p.
24); for, though they alter the quantity of energy no whit, and though