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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 279
its inherent forces (i.e. the will, whose mere visibility it
is) will always put an end again to the repose
which has
commenced, always awaking again from their sleep, to
resume their activity as mechanical, physical, chemical,
wait for the
organic forces ; since at all times they only
opportunity to do so.
But if we want to understand Nature s proceeding, we
must not try to do it by comparing her works with our
own. The real essence of every animal form, is an act of
the will outside representation, consequently outside its
forms of Space and Time also; which act, just on that
account, knows neither sequence nor juxtaposition, but has,
on the contrary, the most indivisible unity. But when our
cerebral perception comprehends that form, and still more
when its inside is dissected by the anatomical knife, then
that which originally and in itself was foreign to know
ledge and its laws, is brought under the light of know
but then also, it has to present itself in conformity
ledge ;
with the laws and forms of knowledge. The original unity
and indivisibility of that act of the will, of that truly
metaphysical being, then appears divided into parts lying
side by side and functions following one upon another,
which all nevertheless present themselves as connected to
gether in closest relationship one to another for mutual
help and support, as means and ends one to the other.
The understanding, in thus apprehending these things, now
perceives the original unity re-establishing itself out of a mul
tiplicity which its own form of knowledge had first brought
about, and involuntarily taking for granted that its own
in which this animal form
way of perceiving this is the way
comes into being, it is now struck with admiration for the
profound wisdom with which those parts are arranged,
those functions combined. This is the meaning of Kant s
great doctrine, that Teleology is brought into Nature by
our own understanding, which accordingly wonders at a