xiv THE EARTH BEFORE HISTORY 



resurrection of the whole of life not merely in its surface aspects 

 but in its inner and deeper organisms ", cannot be fulfilled by 

 genius ; but science can accomplish it by deepening its theory 

 of causality and endeavouring, through its synthesis, to reconstitute 

 the interplay of causes. 



It is this purpose, then, that animates our work : to render 

 intelligible by the study of its causes, and to enable us to follow 

 that progressive movement — not continuously and absolutely 

 progressive, but as a whole and from certain points of view — 

 which gives meaning to the life of humanity. Facts of every 

 category — isolated by special historical accounts and forming in 

 general histories a mosaic of juxtaposed chapters — will all be 

 considered in relation to the permanent needs and individual 

 character of different societies. These societies, on the other 

 hand, will be considered not for themselves but in their relation 

 to the great transformations of humanity. We would not make 

 of them entities or idols. But it is the way in which life changes 

 and develops in human societies that constitutes the specific 

 object of historical science. This is all that is meant, in short, 

 by " civilization " or " culture ", both handy and rather vague 

 words. We shall not deprive ourselves of the use of the word 

 " civilization " : and since we cannot begin with a precise 

 definition we shall in these volumes give it its broad meaning — 

 the increasing complexity of life — relying upon the work itself 

 to indicate what is essential in this complex whole and how the 

 true line of progress is to be determined. 



From the point of view of an ideal presentation, a practical 

 difficulty presents itself. The publications will follow as far as 

 possible the order of the general plan. It woidd have been easier, 

 after the plan of the work had once been decided upon, to publish 

 the volumes as soon as they were completed without reference to 

 any order : but we should then have produced not a real work ; 

 we should only have formed a collection. On the principle 

 adopted, however, the authors and the public will take a more 

 lively interest in the enterprise. Each author will be in a position 

 to adjust his work to those volumes nearest in scope, no matter 

 how strong the personal element, and thus make his contribution 

 fit into the whole. There are undoubtedly subjects whose position 

 is not strictly determined : but apart from a very limited number 

 of cases, the volumes will appear in the order arranged, and, in 

 particular, that one series will not overlap another. 



