Description
Excerpt from The Individual in the Animal Kingdom
Certain criticisms have convinced me that some explanation of the scope of this book will here not be out of place. The task I have attempted in the following pages is a two-fold one. First, I have tried to frame a general definition of the Individual, sufficiently objective to permit of its application by the man of science, while at the same time admitted as accurate (though perhaps regarded as incomplete) by the philosopher. Secondly, I have tried to show in what ways Individuality, as thus defined by me, manifests itself In the Animal Kingdom.
I wish here to point out in general, that the failure of one of these aims does not preclude the success of the other; and, in particular, this - it is possible that the philosophically-minded will quarrel with my definition of the Individual (p. 28) as a continuing whole with inter-dependent parts (to put it at its baldest). But even if he denies that the definition applies to the Individual, he must, I think, admit that it does apply to something, and to something which plays a very important part in the organic world. He will, I believe, after reading the subsequent chapters, be brought to see that every living thing is in some way related to one of thesesystems, these continuing wholes; and that such wholes, though they may not in his eyes deserve the name of Individual, are yet sufficiently widespread and important to merit some title of their own.
Put in other words, the major portion of this book is devoted to showing that living matter always tends to group itself into these closed, independent systems with harmonious parts. Though the closure is never complete, the independence never absolute, the harmony never perfect, yet systems and tendency alike have real existence. Such systems I personally believe can be identified with the Individuals treated of by the philosopher, and I have tried to establish this belief. But what''s in a name? The systems are there whatever we may choose to call them, and if I have shown that, I shall be content.
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Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Certain criticisms have convinced me that some explanation of the scope of this book will here not be out of place. The task I have attempted in the following pages is a two-fold one. First, I have tried to frame a general definition of the Individual, sufficiently objective to permit of its application by the man of science, while at the same time admitted as accurate (though perhaps regarded as incomplete) by the philosopher. Secondly, I have tried to show in what ways Individuality, as thus defined by me, manifests itself In the Animal Kingdom.
I wish here to point out in general, that the failure of one of these aims does not preclude the success of the other; and, in particular, this - it is possible that the philosophically-minded will quarrel with my definition of the Individual (p. 28) as a continuing whole with inter-dependent parts (to put it at its baldest). But even if he denies that the definition applies to the Individual, he must, I think, admit that it does apply to something, and to something which plays a very important part in the organic world. He will, I believe, after reading the subsequent chapters, be brought to see that every living thing is in some way related to one of thesesystems, these continuing wholes; and that such wholes, though they may not in his eyes deserve the name of Individual, are yet sufficiently widespread and important to merit some title of their own.
Put in other words, the major portion of this book is devoted to showing that living matter always tends to group itself into these closed, independent systems with harmonious parts. Though the closure is never complete, the independence never absolute, the harmony never perfect, yet systems and tendency alike have real existence. Such systems I personally believe can be identified with the Individuals treated of by the philosopher, and I have tried to establish this belief. But what''s in a name? The systems are there whatever we may choose to call them, and if I have shown that, I shall be content.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Details
Publisher - Forgotten Books
Language - English
Hardback
Contributors
Author
Julian Huxley
Published Date -
ISBN - 9780265894712
Dimensions - 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.0 cm
Page Count - 186
Paperback
Contributors
Author
Julian Huxley
Published Date -
ISBN - 9781330593660
Dimensions - 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.0 cm
Page Count - 188
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