Inorganic Matter. 147 



root of the doctrine as an interpretation of all forms 

 of concrete being. 



The atomic theory of matter is taken by Mr. 

 Spencer as the foundation of his physical system. 

 What account does he give of the atom ? Its incon- 

 ceivable minuteness may be gathered from his state- 

 ment that by reason we have been helped to explore 

 a " universe compared with which our earth is a grain 

 of sand, and to detect the structure of a monad com- 

 pared with which a grain of sand is an earth."* 

 The statement is more rhetorical than exact ; yet we 

 may infer from it how minute in his view T are the 

 atoms forming the ultimate constituents of matter. 



The one knowable quality of the atom would seem 

 to be resistance. " A thing cannot be thought of as 

 occupying space, except as offering resistance. Even 

 though but a point, if it be conceived to offer 

 absolutely no resistance it ceases to be anything 

 becomes ra>-thing."-f- " Our conception of Matter," 

 he says elsewhere, " reduced to its simplest shape, is 

 that of co-existent positions that offer resistance.''^ 

 Again, he says, " this conception uniting independence, 

 permanence, and force, is the conception we have of 

 matter.'*!! 



In so far as the atom has resistance it manifests 

 force ; beyond this its relation to force is left unde- 



Psych. Vol. II., $ 389. t Ibid. 348. 



First Principles, 4& || Psych. Vol. II., 468. 



