THE METAPHYSICS OF SCIENCE. 375 



VII. Passing from general design to special design, or 

 the design supposed to be revealed in particular events, 

 or particular correlations of material parts, the foremost 

 question arising concerns the meaning of the metaphysical 

 principle of design. Now, when parts are coadjusted, as 

 in any mechanical combination, like a watch or a human 

 hand, the instructive verdict of mankind is an affirmation 

 of intention. This affirmation is prompted by the adjust- 

 ment of part to part, and by the adjustment of the whole 

 to its result. These two conceptions must be kept dis- 

 tinct. Let us for the moment leave out of consideration 

 the question of design in the result, and note what is 

 implied and what is not implied in the affirmation of de- 

 sign in the parts. We say instinctively that the coad- 

 justment of parts implies design; but 1. It does not 

 imply that the action of the parts was designed to pro- 

 duce any result. 2. It does not imply that the result, 

 if any, is useful, beautiful, or any otherwise characterized. 

 3. It does not imply that the result, if any, is either 

 comprehended or comprehensible. 4. It does not imply 

 that the adjustment is something wholly comprehensible. 

 5. It does not imply that the cause of the adjustment is 

 either finite or not finite. 6. It does not imply that the 

 conformations and collocations in the adjustment have 

 been effected by any particular instruments, or according 

 to any particular method. They may have been molded, 

 hewed, carved, turned, or grown, it is all the same. 



These eliminations are of the utmost importance ; but 

 a careful appeal to consciousness demonstrates that our 

 verdict is rendered without the least regard to any con- 

 sideration save the fact of coadjustment, mechanical co- 

 adjustment, in which the action of one part is continually 



