COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



is composed are not in immediate contact, but 

 are separated from each other by enveloping 

 tracts of unoccupied space. 



But no sooner do we seek refuge in this as- 

 sumption than we are again met by difficulties 

 no less insuperable than the one just noticed. 

 The form of our experience of all objects com- 

 pels us to postulate that cohesive or gravitative 

 forces are continually urging the particles of 

 matter toward closer union, while disruptive or 

 thermal forces are continually urging them to- 

 ward wider separation. In view of this, suppose 

 we regard matter, with Newton, as consisting of 

 solid atoms, never absolutely contiguous to each 

 other, but always attracting or repelling each 

 other with a force varying inversely as the 

 squares of the distances between the atoms. 



What then is the constitution of these hypo- 

 thetical atoms ? Are they divisible, or indivisi- 

 ble ? And if divisible, what shall we say of the 

 parts into which they are divided ? Can these 

 be again divided, and so on forever ? If we say 

 yes, we are speedily brought face to face with a 

 double inconceivability. For, on the one hand, 

 by no effort of thought can we conceive the in- 

 finite divisibility of a particle of matter. Men- 

 tally to represent any such division would re- 

 quire infinite time. On the other hand, granting 

 that the particles which we have postulated as 

 the component units of matter are divisible, we 



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