96 "BECOMING" 



the later chapters which is much more subjective than 

 that usually held by science. 



The more closely we examine the association of 

 entropy with "becoming" the greater do the obstacles 

 appear. If entropy were one of the elementary in- 

 definables of physics there would be no difficulty. Or 

 if the moving on of time were something of which we 

 were made aware through our sense organs there would 

 be no difficulty. But the actual combination which we 

 have to face seems to be unique in its difficulty. 



Suppose that we had had to identify "becoming" 

 with electrical potential-gradient instead of with en- 

 tropy-change. We discover potential through the 

 readings of a voltmeter. The numerical reading stands 

 for something in the condition of the world, but we form 

 no picture of what that something is. In scientific 

 researches we only make use of the numerical value — 

 a code-number attached to a background outside all 

 conception. It would be very interesting if we could 

 relate this mysterious potential to any of our familiar 

 conceptions. Clearly, if we could identify the change 

 of potential with the familiar moving on of time, we 

 should have made a great step towards grasping its 

 intrinsic nature. But turning from supposition to fact, 

 we have to identify potential-gradient with force. Now 

 it is true that we have a familiar conception of force — 

 a sensation of muscular effort. But this does not give 

 us any idea of the intrinsic nature of potential-gradient; 

 the sensation is mere mind-spinning provoked by 

 nervous impulses which have travelled a long way from 

 the seat of the force. That is the way with all physical 

 entities which affect the mind through the sense organs. 

 The interposed nerve-mechanism would prevent any close 

 association of the mental image with the physical cause, 



