20 Presidential Address 



are hampered in their general grasp by third 

 and fourth decimal places; happily they are 

 men of robust faith. As we get to know the 

 properties of matter better we see that continuity 

 reigns. ... It would be difficult to just- 

 ify [the belief in continuity] by apodeictic 

 reasoning, but without it all science would be 

 impossible. 



Here he touches on my own theme, 

 Continuity; and, if we had to summarise 

 the main trend of physical controversy 

 at present, I feel inclined to urge that it 

 largely turns on the question as to which 

 way ultimate victory lies in the fight 

 between Continuity and Discontinuity. 



On the surface of nature at first we 

 see discontinuity; objects detached and 

 countable. Then we realise the air and 

 other media, and so emphasise continuity 

 and flowing quantities. Then we detect 

 atoms and numerical properties, and dis- 

 continuity once more makes its appear- 

 ance. Then we invent the ether and are 

 impressed with continuity again. But 

 this is not likely to be the end ; and what 

 the ultimate end will be, or whether there 



