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Reals in the faina Metaphysics How TO EXPLAIN THE HERITABILITY of PARENTAL CHARACTERS
The question thus remains unanswered still,--how is it that the acquired characters of the parent are found in the offspring? Some biologists, though unable to shake the foundation of the theory of Weisman suggest that the body-cells modified in the peculiar way, may in some way influence the germ-plasm, so as to generate in it a tendency to give rise to modifications, similar to those caused in those parental body-cells. Professor Haeckel, for example, says that "the new characteristics which the individual has acquired during life may react to some extent on the molecular texture of the germ-plasm in the egg-cell and the sperm-cell and may thus be transferred to the next generation by heredity in certain conditions (naturally, only in the form of latent energy)”. This is difficult to understand, if, as contended by Weisman, the germ-plasm is essentially different from the body-cells and remains unaffected by the modifications in the latter.
The Indian theory of the Sūkşma Sarīra, as the principle moving and directing the operation of the germ-plasm may be considered in connection with the doctrine of the inheritance of acquired characters which is beset with the difficulties, stated above. The Sūkşma Sarīra is a collection of latent forces capable of evolving and developing the germ-plasm into a Body, not only with its innate characters i.e. the general features common to the species, but as influenced by Dharma and Adharma, with its peculiar and individual characteristics also, alleged to be its "inherited characters". The Indian doctrine is that a Sūkşma Sarira does not work upon any and every germ-plasm at random. It chooses, rather is drawn towards that germ-plasm which is most suitable for the developing of its general and individual features. The Sūksma Śarīra that has the capacity of evolving a lion's Body would thus be drawn towards the germ-plasm of a lion. And in the same manner, the Sūkşma Śarīra which on account of its acts done in its previous lives is to incarnate itself in a Body having certain uncommon and peculiar features would be naturally drawn towards the
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