CHAPTER VIII. 

 THE PERSISTENCE OF FORCE 



SECTION I. 

 Is THE PERSISTENCE OF FORCE A DATUM OF CONSCIOUSNESS 1 



sole truth which transcends experience by 

 -L underlying it is the persistence of Force. This 

 being the basis of experience, must be the basis of 

 .any scientific organization of experiences. To this an 

 ultimate analysis brings us down ; and on this a rational 

 synthesis must build up."* This "alone makes pos- 

 sible each concrete interpretation and at last unifies 

 all concrete interpretations."*!' It is "the deepest of 

 all truths."J It is "that primordial truth which 

 underlies our intelligence,"! | " the truth by derivation 

 from which all other truths are to be proved." 



The persistence of force is Mr. Spencer's ultimate 

 principle. It is the measure of his system. His 

 philosophy covers only what the persistence of force 

 covers. If the persistence of force be too narrow 

 include all knowledge, the evolution doctrine canno 

 include all knowledge. If there be any truth, not 



* First Principles, 62, t Ibid. 191. t Ibid. 162. 

 || Ibid. 155. Ibid. 1 185. 



