ORIGIN OF THE SYNTHETIC PHILOSOPHY. 37 



vision dealing with mathematics, none with physics, none with chem- 

 istry ! 



I pass on now to point out that six months after, in the second es- 

 say I named, there is recognized the fact that for this universal trans- 

 formation of things there is a cause taking precedence of the multipli- 

 cation of effects, namely, the instability of the homogeneous (i. e., the 

 relatively homogeneous, for absolute homogeneity does not exist) — a 

 law which holdd alike of a nebulous mass, an ovum, a primitive tribe, 

 etc. And then in the same essay the law of integration (previously 

 recognized in 1855 in the " Principles of Psychology," Part III, chap- 

 ter xiv), is set forth as holding of organisms and societies — a law later 

 recognized as holding of all evolving aggregates, and eventually recog- 

 nized as the primary trait of all evolution. Are these conceptions to 

 be found in the Positive Philosophy ? 



Shortly after, further developments of these views took place, which 

 are referred to in my letter to Mr. Mill already quoted. Then came 

 recognition of the truth that in aggregates of all ordei's one of the 

 traits of evolution is increase of definiteness ; universally the tendency 

 is for the differentiated parts, at first vaguely marked out, to become 

 sharply marked out. Later still was recognized the fact that these 

 various changes are accompanied everywhere by a process of segrega- 

 tion ; and then, finally, in answer to the question, What is the outcome 

 of all these changes ? there was reached the answer — They inevitably 

 continue till an equilibrium of forces is reached ; every aggregate, in- 

 organic or organic, goes on changing until the forces acting upon it 

 are balanced by the forces it opposes to them ; hence the general law 

 of equilibration. Are these Comtean conceptions ? 



When in 1860-'62 " First Principles " was written, these several 

 inductive and deductive generalizations were incorporated in a coher- 

 ent theory ; and in the chapter dealing with each, there was followed 

 this same order in the groups of illustrations which I have shown nat- 

 urally arises. Beyond this, however, there was an endeavor to go be- 

 hind these proximate causes of the universal transformation, and find 

 the ultimate cause. This was alleged to be the persistence of force 

 (an expression I continue to use as comprehending both the conserva- 

 tion of energy and the constancy of those forces by which passive mat- 

 ter becomes known to us). Has Comte enunciated these ideas, or any 

 allied to them ? 



Lastly, I have to point out that only in the reorganized second 

 edition of " First Principles," published five years later, when, along 

 with other developments, there was recognized that transformation of 

 motion which everywhere accompanies the transformation of matter, 

 did the general conception reach its complete form. There was a 

 gradual growth, as Mr. Mill says ; and it had continued from 1850 

 to 1867. Not only has Comte's influence no place whatever in this 

 process, but the ultimate product of it has no alliance whatever with 



