24 THEORETICAL BIOLOGY 



of optically created local signs, then it is obvious that, since 

 image-forming on the retina is under the influence of the 

 optical apparatus, occasionally a completely distorted image 

 of the line can arise. The optical line is subjected to all the 

 vicissitudes of external experience, and from these an axiom 

 can never be drawn as it can from internal experience. 



Just as there are two kinds of lines, so also there are 

 two kinds of points. As is generally known, we distinguish 

 the immaterial (mathematical) point from the material 

 (physical) point. The mathematical point is defined as the 

 place where two lines intersect. In this case, by " line " is 

 understood a series of direction-signs. The mathematical 

 point, consequently, has no extension. 



The physical point, or atom, is no other than local sign -\- 

 sense-quality. Only by establishing this, can we explain the 

 inner contradictions of this primary element of physics, 

 and at the same time the necessity for its application. The 

 local sign is the smallest quantity of space known to us that 

 possesses no form, for in order to create a form several local 

 signs are needed. For the same reason, the atom, as its name 

 implies, is indivisible. 



The local sign is not itself material, but it is to be found 

 only in conjunction with other sense-qualities which serve as 

 characteristics of matter. The local sign is the smallest 

 spatial receptacle for each kind of matter, but it itself pos- 

 sesses none of the properties of matter. (It is neither blue 

 nor red, neither light nor heavy.) Nevertheless, the local 

 sign governs all the spatial laws of matter, because it is the 

 only bearer of matter in space. This description of the local 

 sign is at the same time a complete enumeration of the pro- 

 perties of the atom. 



From this it follows that to define the atom as the primary 

 element of all kinds of matter is wrong. It is possible that 

 all substances are composed of one primary element ; only 



