64 THE PHILOSOPHY OF BIOLOGY 



ultimate extinction of all becoming ; an universal 

 physical death. 



In this conclusion there is nothing that is specu- 

 lative. It is the least metaphysical of the great 

 generalisations of science. It represents simply 

 our experience of the direction in which physical 

 changes are proceeding. Based upon the most exact 

 methods of science known to us, nothing seems more 

 certain and more capable of rigorous mathematical 

 investigation. 



And yet we are certain that it is not universally 

 true. For there must always have been an universe 

 at least our intellect is incapable of conceiving begin- 

 ning. If we suppose a beginning, an unconditioned 

 creation, at once we leap from science into the rankest 

 of metaphysics. Holding, then, that the duration of 

 our physical universe is an infinite one, we see that the 

 ultimate attainment of energy dissipation must have 

 occurred if our physics is true. It does not matter 

 what new sources of energy modern investigation has 

 shown to us ; nor do the incredibly great lapses of 

 duration necessary for the depletion of these sources 

 matter. We have eternity to draw upon. Every- 

 where in the universe we see diversity and becoming. 

 Is then the whole problem a transcendental one, or is 

 the second law untrue ? We refuse to regard the 

 problem as insoluble, and we must think of the second 

 law as true of our physical experience only. But our 

 conception of the universe shows that it cannot be 

 true, and so we have to seek for an influence com- 

 pensatory to it. 



If the organism is a mechanism of the physico- 

 chemical kind, it should therefore conform to the two 

 great principles of energetics established by the 

 physicists. Now there can be no doubt that the law of 



