XXVIII 



THE MEANING OF DISSOLUTION 



WE are now compelled to consider a theory of 

 incalculable significance, which goes by the name 

 of dissolution. It was only after many years that 

 Spencer found it necessary to add to his definition 

 of evolution a description of a correlative process 

 which he called dissolution. Had he appreciated 

 earlier the facts on which this theory is based, we 

 would not be subject to the confusion in the use of 

 the term evolution, which is properly a general 

 and universal process, but may also be used to in- 

 dicate the "upward" phases of that process, as 

 distinguished from the "downward" phases, which 

 we describe as dissolution. 



The doctrine that "progress," or increasing 

 heterogeneousness, or complication, cannot con- 

 tinue forever, but must be followed by a phase of 

 retrogression, involution, or dissolution, is of great- 

 est interest, not only in relation to creeds or so- 

 cieties or individual lives, but also in relation to 

 the present phase of activity manifested through- 

 out the known universe. 



It is a commonplace that the sun is moribund. 

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