70 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



beginning of all concrete forms. The law of the 

 knowable universe is the law of the atoms and their 

 vibrations. They are aggregated into masses; their 

 movements are gathered together into the vast sweep 

 of celestial motions ; their pulsations are the outer face 

 of the thrill of pleasure and the throb of pain ; their 

 waves of molecular action, passing through the nerve 

 centres, are the shocks which, repeatedly recurring, 

 combined and recombined, call into being and mould 

 the self-knowing intelligence and world-embracing 

 thoughts of man. Such is the evolutionist theory 

 of concrete existence. Dynamic law rules. The oscil- 

 lating atom matter and motion the law of their 

 continuous redistribution all knowable concrete 

 being is there. If there be any mode of existence 

 or of activity not included, of it we can have no de- 

 finite knowledge: it is for ever hidden from man. 

 Evolution covers the knowable ; and evolution is " an 

 integration of matter and concomitant dissipation of 

 motion." 



This theory we are not allowed to speak of as 

 materialistic: Mr. Spencer repudiates the charge of 

 materialism. No one can have any desire to affix the 

 offensive word to his name or doctrine. He is on the 

 point an agnostic. He cannot tell what may be the 

 nature of the Ultimate Power, whether matter or 

 spirit, or both, or neither. He refuses to predicate of 

 it in any definite mode. But we are not in the least 

 concerned about the ultimate reality, whether it is 



