Contents. 



PAGK 



existence If the latter, where during all the ages did it 

 lie hidden? , 87 



SECTION III. The Force persisting the Absolute Force. Mr. 

 Spencer employs the word force to denote force as it is 

 within the limits of definite knowledge, and force as it is 

 for ever unknowable Science requires the persistence of 

 force within the reach of knowledge The validity of the 

 axiom requires that we should take the persisting force 

 to be the absolute Evolution is founded on the persist- 

 ence of manifested force But force as existing within 

 the knowable does not persist Force recedes into the 

 unsearchable, . . . . . .89 



SECTION IV. Can ive predicate persistence in any knowable 

 mode ? The predication of persistence in identity will 

 not hold The predication, Force continues to be force, 

 yields no profitable result Persistence may mean con- 

 tinuance in equality of amount This predication also 

 fails us We must reject the predication of persistence in 

 identity, or in kind, or in quantity Removing these 

 modes we reach the bare thought of being We are not 

 far from Hegel's identification of pure Being and pure 

 No-thing The knowable universe will not rest firmly on 

 such a basis, . . . . . .95 



SECTION V. -^-Corollaries of the persistence of force. 1. The 

 indestructibility of matter. The persistence of force does 

 not guarantee the persistence of matter Two essential 

 attributes of matter, resistance and occupation of space 

 No sufficient ground for affirming that matter, whether 

 viewed as resistant or space-occupying, persists. 2. The 

 continuity of motion. Persistance of force gives no 

 warrant for affirming the ceaseless continuity of motion. 

 3. The persistance of relations among forces. The rela- 

 tions comprise space, time, quantity, quality, cause and 

 effect These relations do not all persist, else there could 

 be no change Mr. Spencer deals only with cause and 

 effect This relation examined as an instance of persist- 

 ence Final conclusion that the persistance of force has 

 no validity as a universal truth But Evolutionism is 

 based on it, . . . . . . 103 



