AND ITS SELF-CONSERVATION. 45 



merely a more explicit phase of externality, of matter as 

 the extended, it proves to be a tendency toward concen- 

 tration as well, and hence to involve internality no less than 

 externality. And this will become only the more apparent 

 the more concretely it is viewed. 



Imagine the particles in such series as that above repre- 

 sented to be retained in the same relative positions, and 

 the whole revolved about the central one in such way that 

 the several other particles shall describe concentric circles 

 in the same plane. It is evident that every possible 

 diameter of the circles thus described has been repre- 

 sented in succession by the line joining the series of par- 

 ticles, and that the same relations would be true in every 

 position assumed by the series. 



If, now, the distances of (1) and (2) from (3) in the 

 original series be assumed to be different from the distances 

 separating (4) and (5) from (3), then we should have four 

 circles, each with a material circumference about a com- 

 mon material center. In such case it is evident that the 

 complexity of relations must be vastly multiplied, since 

 the repulsions will be exerted not merely between the 

 members of each series in any given diameter, but also 

 between each member of each series, and every member 

 of each and all the other series as well. 



But, again, let us imagine each diameter to be rendered 

 material throughout its whole length through the further 

 multiplication of particles. We should then have a con- 

 tinuous disc, involving still further complication of repul- 

 sions and counter-repulsions the lines of relation running 

 out from each particle to every other particle in the whole 

 disc, and thus forming a most minutely complicated web 

 of relations. 



