AKD ITS SELF-CONSERVATION". 201 



calculation. That is, it is a (relatively) quantitatively 

 determined result. But the universe, as a whole, the 

 total (( quantity" of energy, is by no means quantifiable 

 in the sense of being expressible in terms of any human 

 calculus. It is, as has already been shown, measurable 

 only by itself. 



Doubtless the quantitatively determined results which 

 scientists have attained may be approximately correct as 

 regards finite portions of the universe the solar system, 

 for example where the process of the "running down" 

 of energy may very well be considered as in actual pro- 

 gress. As already intimated, this running down of energy 

 in finite portions of the universe is manifestly a necessary 

 phase of the total process of the conservation of energy. 



Nor can it reasonably be doubted that it is precisely 

 here that the depressing pessimistic (or is it really uplift- 

 ing-optimistic ?) conclusion is reached as to the approach- 

 ing "death" of the "universe." For, after all, it is 

 fairly evident that the estimates respecting the dissipation 

 of energy have reference only to "our" universe in 

 contrast with another universe, or even with innumerable 

 other universes to which it would seem that any specula- 

 tions of exact science can have no reference. 



But any such local running down of energy necessarily 

 implies a previous process of running up. It is impossi- 

 ble that a body should fall unless it has been previously 

 raised to the height from which it falls. 



Equally impossible is it, because really repeating the 

 same thing, that the solar system should have resulted 

 from the falling together of a nebula, unless the matter 

 composing it had been previously expanded or ' 'raised" 

 to the vastly distant spaces occupied by the nebula. 



