140 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



us, we need not look for much light from a study of 

 the phrase which the explanation is supposed to 

 elucidate. The words " integration of matter and 

 concomitant dissipation of motion" do not furnish an 

 instrument of exact reasoning. In dealing with the 

 relations of matter and motion, we have not reached a 

 scientific conception till we have formulated definite 

 relations of quantity. There is no quantitative rela- 

 tion between this " integration " and " dissipation " set 

 out in the formula. What the relation may be, if 

 there be definite relation, is left undetermined. We 

 have elsewhere general statements as to progress from 

 "the extreme of diffusion to the extreme of concen- 

 tration," and from the " greatest quantity of contained 

 motion to the least quantity of contained motion ;" but 

 these phrases give us no material for scientific know- 

 ledge. The exactness with which a law of science cor- 

 responds with reality is proved by the certainty with 

 which, by means of it, definite results may be predicted. 

 What prevision of future events does this law furnish ? 

 What event has it enabled the evolutionist to foresee ? 

 It will not help us to write out in advance the series 

 of changes through which the whole universe or any 

 part of it will pass. It does not supply an instrument 

 of discovery where observation has not reached ; we 

 cannot determine by it the form of any organism 

 outside the field of observation. It cannot, except in 

 .a loose use of terms, be called a laiv. 



On further examination of this boasted all-corn- 



