LIFE AND THE COSMOS 301 



III 



COSMIC EVOLUTION 



But, for the scientist, these are matters 

 of little moment. He, at least, is not obliged 

 to take any stand concerning them. This 

 could hardly be better illustrated than by our 

 new facts themselves. For it seems to be 

 clear that where science is most self-sufficient, 

 at the very basis of physical science itself, 

 if anywhere, teleology is at work. Yet it is 

 certain that physical science needs no tele- 

 ology to explain its phenomena and pro- 

 cesses. These are mechanisms, and since 

 the publication of Newton's "Principia" no 

 one has seriously doubted the fact. 1 



To-day there is as little room for doubt that 

 a complete description of cosmic evolution in 

 terms of matter and energy is possible; for 

 it is sound scientific doctrine that what exists 

 in the finished solar system depends upon 

 what already existed in the nebula. The 

 forms and states and quantities of matter 

 and energy in the nebula determine the re- 

 sulting solar system. Further, since both 

 nebulae and solar systems are common oc- 



1 Laplace's reply to a question of Napoleon's. "Why the 

 name of God did not occur in his ' Mecanique celeste,' " will 

 be recalled : "Sire, je n'ai pas besoin de cet hypothese." 



