A Contribution to the Theory of the Living Organisms.

Abstract

Wilfred Agar (1875-1950) was professor of zoology at Melbourne University for thirty years. When I met him in 1946, I told him that I had enjoyed reading his book. He replied that he too had enjoyed writing it. I shall never forget my feeling of elation which became more distinct each chapter as Agar hit the nail on the head time after time. The book even then was out of print, so I made an abstract of its message which I always have near me in a drawer of my desk. Victor Lowe (<i>Understanding Whitehead</i>, 1962) has singled out Agar as almost the sole example of a biologist who has tried to apply Whitehead's principles. Essential to the study of life, says Agar, is the study of psychology—of the evidence of mind in animals from the lowest to the highest. He disagrees with those scientists who say psychology is not