Contents. vii 



PAGE 



formula cannot be applied to individual objects or classes 

 of things In them the force does not persist, but is 

 continually changed in amount Every principle of 

 cosmic evolution is in such cases violated The formula 

 when tested is found wanting, .... 133 



CHAPTER XL 



EVOLUTION AS IT GIVES ACCOUNT OF INORGANIC MATTER. 



Evolution should throw clearest light on inorganic matter 

 Here dynamic law is supreme Mr. Spencer does not 

 apply his doctrine in this field This to be regretted It 

 could have been more easily tested by known physical 

 law The atomic theory adopted by Mr. Spencer The 

 one quality of the atom resistance Is the atom a force- 

 bearer, or is the force inherent in the atom ? Mr. Spencer 

 favours the former Then we have, besides the atoms, 

 operative forces moving them How can the law of these 

 forces be reached ? The atoms are combined in molecules 

 and these in systems All future changes lay in these 

 co-ordinate movements These movements are not ex- 

 plained Of this world behind the visible evolution can 

 tell us nothing Yet the visible cannot be understood till 

 it is known It is a barren hypothesis No instance of 

 evolution in the whole range of dynamic operations 

 Differentiation the necessary form of all definite concepts 

 In pure physics evolutionism is silent in face of every 

 fundamental question, ..... 145 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE TRANSITION FROM INORGANIC MATTER TO LIFE. 



Mr. Spencer repudiates "spontaneous generation" His 

 account of the transition to life Instability of the inor- 

 ganic compounds Atoms aggregated into molecules 

 molecules into protein Portions of inorganic matter 

 displaying activities varying little by little into vital 

 Ceaseless adjustments between aggregates and their units 



