148 THE WORLD-ENEKGY 



itself. It is, in other words, a self-unfolding prin- 

 ciple, which presents phases reaching wholly beyond 

 (in the sense of being absolutely superior to) the realm 

 of the merely physical. 



It becomes increasingly evident, then, that, while we 

 must indeed look within, we must also and equally 

 look beyond the extended world, if we would discover 

 the true principle of actual movement in that world. 

 And this is, in a manner, confirmed by the significant 

 change that has recently come over physical science in 

 its use of certain terms. 



When Mr. Spencer wrote his ''First Principles," the 

 expression, "conservation of force," was in fashion. 

 Since then this expression has been modified, by common 

 consent, so as to put the word energy in place of the 

 word force. 



In this substitution there is manifest a distinct 

 advance from a relatively more to a relatively less 

 mechanical view of nature. For not only is the ele- 

 ment of spontaneity and personality implied in the 

 popular use of the term "energy," as opposed to the 

 phase of mechanical necessity implied in the term 

 "force;" but the use of the term energy itself takes us 

 back inevitably to Aristotle's use of the same term 

 (ivspyeia) as the name for that ultimate unit of power to 

 the activity of which he traces all modes of reality, and 

 which he ultimately names the Absolute, Divine Spirit. 



Another indication of the feeling among scientists that 

 the mechanical view is inadequate and that a term 

 expressive of spontaneity is required in describing the 

 ultimate unit of power is furnished in a suggestion by 

 Professor Huxley, which was followed by Mr. Spencer. 



