By the statement, that the living substance, as to its simplest component parts, doesn't differ in anything from non-living matter, the impression is made as if one is looking at the so-called simple elements as s u c h, i.e. also as in the various different compounds or combinations. But in fact one compares and identifies from them always analytically, and thus absolutely in a fashion of destruction, isolated artifacts, which, it is true, are similar because they n o w are in the same condition [namely all in the state of isolation]. But to assume this also for conditions [states] in the different combinations, betray a lack of fine-chemical feeling and fine-analytical instinct, which is not satisfied with such gross results.
The arrangement of atoms in the organismic molecule gives to these atoms the possibility to already assume the organismic state for themselves, which then, superimposed upon te whole, results in the self-one-functional [das Eigen-Ein-Funktionellle, EEFelle] and with it in Life itself.
When Virchow thought : "it is impossible, to understand from our known properties of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, how from their union a soul would originate", we should note that the physical and chemical properties usually known to us, of the free elements completely vanish in every compound, and so are bound to the free condition, and only there have a "sense".
So, in an attempt to explain [life] we must focus, not to the vanishing known properties, but to the "remaining" (the conserved) or [also] the "newly appearing" properties, and only from these try to conclude something, and see : this attempt is not without success.