12 TIME AND PERIODICITY 



ledge of Time ; wduld be equally a wanting. 1 Yet 

 so it is. The operation of the Law of Periodicity 

 is necessary to the measurement of Time. It is by 

 means, and only by means, of periodic pulsative 

 movements that we ever do or can measure Time. 

 Now, apart from some sort of measurement Time 

 would be unknowable. A time which was neither 

 long nor short would be meaningless. The idea of 

 unquantified Time cannot be conceived or appre- 

 hended. Time to be known must be measured. 



Periodicity, therefore, is essential to our Know- 

 ledge of Time. But Nature amply supplies us with 

 this necessary instrument. The Law of Periodicity 

 prevails widely throughout Nature. It absolutely 

 dominates Life. 



The centre of animal vitality is to be found in 

 the beating heart and breathing lungs. Pulsation 

 qualifies not merely the nutrient life but the mus- 

 culo-motor activity as well. Eating, Walking, 

 all our most elementary movements are pulsatory. 

 v We wake and sleep, we grow weary and rest. We 

 are born and we die, we are young and grow old. 

 All animal life is determined by this Law. 



1 This might be contrasted with the statement of M. Bergson 

 who tells us (Evolution creatrice, p. 11) : "Plus nous approfondirons 

 la nature du temps plus nous comprendrons que duree signifie 

 invention, creation de formes, elaboration continue de 1'absolument 

 nouveau." 



