CHAPTER III 

 EVOLUTION AND DISSOLUTION 



WE must now consider what use is to 

 be made of these universal truths 

 which the foregoing survey of the 

 abstract-concrete sciences has disclosed. For if 

 we inquire whether these theorems, singly or 

 combined, can be made to supply the materials 

 needful for constructing such an organized body 

 of truths as may fitly be called Cosmic Philoso- 

 phy, it will require but a brief consideration to 

 show us that much more is needed. 



In respect of universality, no doubt, these 

 truths leave nothing to be desired. That every 

 manifestation of force must be preceded and 

 followed by an equivalent manifestation ; that 

 correlated forms of energy are transmutable one 

 into the other ; that motion follows the line of 

 least resistance ; and that there is a continuous 

 rhythmical redistribution of matter and motion ; 

 — these are propositions which are true alike 

 of all orders of phenomena, and may therefore 

 justly claim to be regarded, in a certain sense, 

 as philosophic truths. Yet we need only fancy 

 ourselves enunciating these abstract theorems 

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