CHAPTER III. 



The Constitution of the Universe: or Space, 

 Eternity, Matter, Energy, and Cause. 



Section i. Space, or the Habitat of the Tilings of 

 Existence : — 



The most intelligible definition of space is a void, 

 or room for phenomena to display themselves. In a 

 sense we are followers of Democritus, whose first 

 principle was, "The only existing things are atoms 

 and empty space." But it would be more correct to 

 say, " The only existing things are atoms in empti- 

 ness," for the absence of everything cannot be de- 

 nominated a tiling objectively. " Nature abhors a 

 vacuum " is an old saw ; but, practically, the universe 

 is a vacuum with the worlds inhabiting it. Philo- 

 sophers say we cannot conceive of a limitless emptiness. 

 Doubtless, because our functions of conception, brain 

 motions, are themselves motions of something, not 

 motions of nothing. But the idea is more conceivable 

 than that of a limited emptiness, because if it be 

 limited, something must define the limitations. Hence, 



