70 IN THE BEGINNING 



material for such a natural solution at hand, it would be 

 absurd for us to say that science has exhausted its possi- 

 bilities, and we must fall back on mysticism. On the con- 

 trary, we are just on the eve of great scientific constructions. 

 Already it is clear that they will have a bearing on this pro- 

 found biological problem. 



It has been stated over and over again that the new dis- 

 coveries in physics have " undermined Materialism." What 

 " Materialism " is it would be difficult to say, as the writers 

 who habitually use the word religious writers like Sir O. 

 Lodge do not define it consistently. But if we are to take 

 it that it means the view of life which resolves all things 

 into matter and energy, the error is somewhat puzzling. 

 Matter will probably, in the long run, be resolved into 

 ether. That is exactly what " Materialists " have predicted 

 for a long time. A Monist and evolutionist especially must 

 be gratified to see the diverse chemical elements resolved 

 into ether. Sir O. Lodge, while encouraging the loose talk 

 about the discomfiture of the " Materialist," says that 

 inertia is the most fundamental property of matter we 

 know (p. 27), and that when the atom is resolved into 

 electrons inertia will certainly " not have disappeared " 

 (p. 29 italics his). As to energy, on which physical 

 teaching is as yet most inconsistent, the Monist will gladly 

 welcome an attempt to settle its close relation to " matter." 

 And, beyond these two points, the only promise of the new 

 radio-activity as yet is a strong suggestion that it may help 

 us materially to explain the natural evolution of life ! 



