The Formula of Evolution. 141 



prehending principle, we are left in perplexity by the 

 difficulty of bringing under it two classes of processes 

 differenced by quite opposite conditions. Mr. Spencer 

 lays down his principle as applicable alike to the 

 movement of the totality of concrete being and to the 

 evolution of individual things. To bring under the 

 same formula the totality of cosmic movement and 

 the changes taking place in individual things is mani- 

 festly impossible. The conditions are opposite. A 

 lengthened discussion in his First Principles estab- 

 lishes as the foundation of the law of evolution, the 

 indestructibility of matter, the continuity of motion,, 

 the persistence of force ; and from these Mr. Spencer 

 deduces the "law of evolution," which is, "the law of 

 the continuous redistribution of matter and motion." * 

 Evolution is, then, a continuous redistribution; the 

 quantity of matter remains the same, the amount of 

 motion is unchanged : no addition or dirninition is- 

 supposed to be possible. The doctrine of evolution 

 professes to show how they are redistributed. To 

 increase or diminish the amount of manifested force 

 would be destructive of Mr. Spencer's demonstration, 

 and fatal to his whole theory of cosmic evolution. 

 All depends on the persistence of force. " Persistence 

 of force is the deepest knowable cause of evolution." 

 But when we come to apply Mr. Spencer's formula to 

 individual objects or classes of things, we must dis- 



* First Principles, 92. 



