MODERN THOUGHT 143 



From this brief review of the abstract or mathematical theories 

 which have been proposed to explain the universe, it appears that while 

 no one can deny the existence of gravity wherever there is matter, or of 

 molecular activity or of motion, or of energy, it is certain that no one of 

 them fully explains the mysteries of the universe. "VYe feel the need of 

 something more, some force or principle, some intelligence underlying 

 all that we can see or discover as existing by the aid of the most 

 powerful instruments, not only to direct and control forces already 

 acting in and upon matter, but to create them and set them in motion. 



Passing from these abstract explanations of the origin and nature 

 of the universe and the consideration of their influence upon thought, 

 four other theories, which may be called concrete from the fact that 

 they rest on that which is visible and tangible, the morphological, the 

 genetic, the vitalistic and the psycho-physical, require our attention. 

 These theories are descriptive in their character and are based upon 

 studies in the field rather than in the laboratory or the museum. Ab- 

 stract science has been of immense advantage to the world of industry, 

 and its methods of investigation will not soon be given up, but the 

 progress made in the descriptive sciences has been very great and not 

 without influence upon mind and life, or, as Merz is fond of saying, 

 upon thought. The conception of energy and descent has helped to 

 break down old distinctions and to establish on a firmer foundation the 

 conception of unity in nature. 



Morphology seeks to study objects as a whole rather than in detail, 

 and to study these as they are in nature, before they suffer from 

 changes wrought by the hands of men. The morphologist wants to know 

 things as they are, and why they are. He recognizes the differences in 

 the forms which substance assumes and in the structure of bodies. He 

 considers their relation to each other and to their environment, the 

 effect of climate and of time. But it is the object as a whole rather 

 than any part of it in which he is interested. Such a method of study 

 can not fail to be popular. It appeals to the people at large. Its de- 

 scriptions can be easily understood and appreciated. Such men as 

 Humboldt, Linnasus, Daubenton, Buffon and Cuvier have been among 

 its distinguished advocates. Natural objects, it will be remembered, 

 may be spoken of as cosmical, molar or molecular. Cosmical or heav- 

 enly bodies are magnitudes of immense size in space; molar objects are 

 the objects we can see and handle here on the earth; molecular objects 

 are the objects which are too small for our vision or touch to discover. 

 Cosmical bodies are infinitely large, molecular infinitely small. If all 

 bodies are similar in their composition, as the discoveries through the 

 spectroscope seem to indicate, then a description of the nature of molar 

 objects may be applied to those which are cosmic or molecular. 



In the study of nature from a morphological point of view there is 

 need of wide travel. Humboldt in his " Cosmos " has given us the re- 



