148 KANT'S UNIVERSAL NATURAL HISTORY 



such a distribution of the primitive matter in the space of 

 the original chaos, as bringing with it naturally a centre of 

 the whole creation in order that the active mass, which 

 embraces the whole of nature within its sphere, may be 

 concentrated at this point, and that a thoroughgoing 

 combination may be effected, by which all the worlds shall 

 constitute only one single structure. But in the infinite 

 space, another mode of distribution of the original material, 

 which could posit a true centre and attracting point for the 

 whole of nature, could hardly be conceived other than the 

 one according to which it is arranged to all remote dis- 

 tances by a law of increasing dispersion from that point. 

 But this law, moreover, involves a difference in the time 

 which a system needs in the different regions of infinite 

 space for the maturing of its development, so that this period 

 is found the shorter the nearer the place of the formation 

 of a world is found to the centre of creation, because the 

 elements of matter are more densely accumulated there ; 

 and, on the other hand, longer time will be required the 

 greater the distance is, because the particles are more dis- 

 persed there, and unite for formation later on. 



If the whole hypothesis which I have sketched is 

 examined in the extent of all I have said, as well as 

 of what I shall still specially present, the boldness of its 

 demands on the reader should at least not be regarded 

 as being beyond excuse. The inevitable tendency which 

 every world that has been brought to completion gradually 

 shows towards its destruction, may even be reckoned 

 among the reasons which may establish the fact that the 

 universe will again be fruitful of worlds in other regions 

 to compensate for the loss which it has suffered in any one 

 place. The whole portion of nature which we know, 



