86 THE DOCTRINE OF ENERGY 



Now we maintain, on the contrary, that such a 

 statement of physical theory is erroneous and 

 redundant ; that Science is not obliged to postulate 

 two such entities ; that the concept of Energy sup- 

 plies all her requirements ; and that the employment 

 of that conception obviates the very serious con- 

 tradictions which are involved in any assumption 

 of a real entity of the nature of Matter as ordinarily 

 understood a conception of which the very de- 

 scription involves difficulties which have perplexed 

 thinking men for more than two centuries. 



Our argument on this point involves considera- 

 tion of the place occupied by Energy in a potential 

 form. 



Whilst the transformability of Heat, Light, 

 Sound, and other physical phenomena in definite 

 numerical ratios has led to their being all regarded 

 as actual manifestations of transmutations proceed- 

 ing in one real thing, occasionally there is a seeming 

 break in the catena ; no phenomenon can be 

 detected into which the heat or light or other 

 immediately preceding manifestation has been trans- 

 formed ; but, later on, the co-relative reappears, 

 and by an argument as strong as that which 

 asserts the continuous identity of an intelligence 

 before, during, and after a temporary suspension 

 of consciousness, the student of Physics maintains 



