The Persistence of Force. 79 



derivable from the persistence of force, evolutionism 

 falls short of its pretension as a philosophy em- 

 bracing all truth. If, in the course of change in 

 organisms or in the universe, there is aught that is 

 not deducible from the persistence of force, the Evo- 

 lution Hypothesis fails as a rational doctrine : science 

 is left to describe, without explaining, phenomenal 

 processes that are still unaccounted for. It is vital to 

 Mr. Spencer's theory that the persistence of force 

 should be accepted as a principle co-extensive with 

 the field of knowledge ; for it is the foundation on 

 which the new cosmic philosophy is built. We must 

 subject it to the closest examination. 



Mr. Spencer claims for it the authority of an ulti- 

 mate datum of consciousness. " If it can be shown," 

 he says, " that the persistence of force is not a datum 

 of consciousness, .... then indeed it will be shown 

 that the theory of evolution has not the high warrant 

 here claimed for it."* Let us test this claim. 



It is at once granted that the cognition of force is 

 a primary datum of consciousness. In every experi- 

 ence of material objects there lies the cognition of 

 force. We know force in matter as resisting; we 

 have a sense of active force in the effects produced on 

 the organism and felt as sensations ; we have also 

 experience of force in the exertion of bodily strength 

 in response to volition. The experience of something 



* First Principles, 192. 



