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A PRIORI ARGUMENT 177

combination of rhythmically-acting parts in moving
equilibrium, the action and structure of any one part
cannot be altered without causing alterations of action
and structure in all the rest." [The appreciability of
the change will depend on the amount and nature
of the modification, and on the intimacy of the cor-
relation subsisting in the organism. Dislodging a
rock may alter the centre of gravity of the earth, but
it does not do so appreciably.] ** And if the organism
A, when changed to A⁷, must be changed in all its
functions; then the offspring of A' cannot be the
same as they would have been had it retained the
form A" [Assuming that is to say that the change
in the physiological units of the body affects the
physiological units in the germ-cells.] "That the
change in the offspring must, other things equal, be
in the same direction as the change in the parent,
appears implied by the fact that the change propagated
throughout the parental system is a change towards a
new state of equilibrium—a change tending to bring
the actions of ail organs, reproductive included, into
harmony with these new actions." [It seems to us to
pass the wit of man to conceive how or why an im-
proved equilibrium in the use of the hand should in-
volve any corresponding or representative change of
equilibrium in the germ-cells.]

Spencer seems to have seen the matter quite clearly.
If the physiological units in the germ-cell mould the
aggregate organism, the organism modified by in-
cident actions will impress some corresponding modi-
fications on the structures and polarities of its units.
And if the physiological units are in any degree so
remoulded as to bring their polar forces towards
M



	A PRIORI ARGUMENT 177 combination of rhythmically-acting parts in moving equilibrium, the action and structure of any one part cannot be altered without causing alterations of action and structure in all the rest." [The appreciability of the change will depend on the amount and nature of the modification, and on the intimacy of the cor- relation subsisting in the organism. Dislodging a rock may alter the centre of gravity of the earth, but it does not do so appreciably.] ** And if the organism A, when changed to A⁷, must be changed in all its functions; then the offspring of A' cannot be the same as they would have been had it retained the form A" [Assuming that is to say that the change in the physiological units of the body affects the physiological units in the germ-cells.] "That the change in the offspring must, other things equal, be in the same direction as the change in the parent, appears implied by the fact that the change propagated throughout the parental system is a change towards a new state of equilibrium—a change tending to bring the actions of ail organs, reproductive included, into harmony with these new actions." [It seems to us to pass the wit of man to conceive how or why an im- proved equilibrium in the use of the hand should in- volve any corresponding or representative change of equilibrium in the germ-cells.] Spencer seems to have seen the matter quite clearly. If the physiological units in the germ-cell mould the aggregate organism, the organism modified by in- cident actions will impress some corresponding modi- fications on the structures and polarities of its units. And if the physiological units are in any degree so remoulded as to bring their polar forces towards M