Ill 



SCIENCE AND MORALS 131 



older, and learned to use the terms matter and 

 force, the boyish problem was revived, mutato 

 nomine. On the one hand, the notion of matter 

 without force seemed to resolve the world into a 

 set of geometrical ghosts, too dead even to jabber. 

 On the other hand, Boscovich s hypothesis, by 

 which matter was resolved into centres of force, 

 was very attractive. But when one tried to think 

 it out, what in the world became of force con 

 sidered as an objective entity ? Force, even the 

 most materialistic of philosophers will agree with 

 the most idealistic, is nothing but a name for the 

 cause of motion. And if, with Boscovich, I 

 resolved things into centres of force, then matter 

 vanished altogether and left immaterial entities 

 in its place. One might as well frankly accept 

 Idealism and have done with it. 



I must make a confession, even if it be humili 

 ating. I have never been able to form the 

 slightest conception of those &quot; forces &quot; which the 

 Materialists talk about, as if they had samples of 

 them many years in bottle. They tell me that 

 matter consists of atoms, which are separated by 

 mere space devoid of contents ; and that, through 

 this void, radiate the attractive and repulsive 

 forces whereby the atoms affect one another. If 

 anybody can clearly conceive the nature of these 

 things which not only exist in nothingness, but 

 pull and push there with great vigour, I envy 

 him for the possession of an intellect of larger 

 grasp, not only than mine, but than that of 



K 2 



