ABSTRACT
A study of the organic world in which we live demonstrates clearly that the animals and plants do not show a confused admixture of forms but display a separation into groups which can usually be defined with sufficient certainty. A genetic connection is only accepted in order to avoid what is regarded as an unnatural presentation of repeated annihilations and new creations of entire organic worlds. Since, however, the number of ‘figure stones’ discovered constantly increased, grave doubts began to arise against the nisus formativus theory, especially since it apparently had ceased to act. The object of earnest scientific investigation would be to examine more closely the present forms of organic life as regards their varietal capacity and to follow up the evolutionary series of the separate groups and no longer to maintain in a merely general way a genetic connection as a postulate.
