6 ESSENTIALS OF BIOLOGY 



sense that it can enter into new chemical combinations, radiate 

 heat, or undergo physical change, in general. 



(But if we were to particularize we might, no doubt, make many 

 energetic states of things, and it is possible that all matter may 

 be undergoing very slow radioactive change, so that those things 

 which we call inert may be physically active in an infinitesimal 

 degree and over exceedingly long periods of time. If this is 

 the case, the ultimate state of nature which passes is the dissolution 

 of all things into chaotic, low-frequency radiation.) 



2c. The" Making OF Things." We may regard the universe 

 as in the course of " being made." Things, like the substance 

 of the interiors of the stars, are yet '* unmade." They represent 

 actual or potential causality and to some extent they may '' become 

 anything." They are enormous stores of energy w^hich are 

 dissipating themselves. 



The older conception was that of a universe that had a fate, 

 completely determined. The newer conception does not admit 

 unique determination but rather the more or less probability of 

 things happening. Thus while we may forecast the future of 

 the sun, to a great extent^ in that we can be sure that most of its 

 energy simply radiates away into space, we cannot forecast what 

 will be the fate of all of that part of the energy that falls on an 

 earth which contains living organisms. 



By the " making of things " we mean the assumptions of forms, 

 materials, radiations, etc., that occur in the course of the passage 

 of nature, that is, in the course of the degradation of the primary 

 potentialities represented in the interiors of the stars. 



2d. Inanimate Things that are not yet Completely 

 Made. On the earth these are the heated earth-core, which 

 continually gives off heat and contracts, thus producing surface 

 inequalities, mountain ranges, running water, the ocean ; the 

 heat received by the earth from the sun, which evaporates water 

 and sets up ocean currents and winds ; all chemical substances 

 that can still enter into combinations, etc. The physical potenti- 

 alities of these things are not exhausted. In a large measure their 

 fates can be predicted, but we shall see that these fates cannot 

 absolutely be predicted and will not be so predicted with any 

 increase in our know^ledge of nature. 



26. Inanimate Things that are Completely Made. Such 

 are (almost entirely) dark and cold stars, satellites, cosmic dust, 



