CHAPTER VII. 



AS TO CONTINUITY AND DISCRETENESS OF QUANTITY IN 

 MATTER. 



AT this point we come upon the question as to the 

 relation between continuous and discrete quantity 

 in matter. And in our search for the answer to this 

 question we have but to revert to what has already pre- 

 ceded. We have seen that matter, as constituted of force, 

 is simply a manifestation of the relations between the 

 complementary modes or phases of force attraction and 

 repulsion. But the interaction of these phases of force 

 cannot but result in the focusing at every point in space of 

 a greater or less intensity of strain between those phases. 

 And yet each of these foci of force necessarily ex- 

 tends outward so as to act upon, and in turn to be reacted 

 upon by, every other focus of force. Thus constituted, 

 then, matter is necessarily continuous. At the same time, 

 however, the very focusing of force through the interac- 

 tion of its two complementary modes is a setting up of 

 distinctions which necessarily mark off or limit one por- 

 tion of matter as thus far separate, at least quantitatively, 

 from every other portion. Whence it is to be concluded 

 that matter is not merely continuous, but is also at the 

 same time, and not less truly, discrete. That is, the same 

 totality presents itself under the two different but also 

 complementary aspects of discreteness and continuity. 



