COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



erted by the totality of the companion groups. 

 Hence the change from indefinite incoherent 

 homogeneity to definite coherent heterogeneity 

 must accompany the integration of matter ; and 

 no alternative conclusion can be reached with- 

 out denying the persistence of force. 



I am aware that scanty justice is here done 

 to the arguments by which, in three interesting 

 chapters, Mr. Spencer establishes this deductive 

 conclusion. But since the brief exposition here 

 given is not intended as a substitute for the 

 study of Mr. Spencer's treatise, but rather as a 

 commentary upon it, his position has been per- 

 haps sufficiently indicated. 



We are now prepared to study with profit 

 some of the phenomena presented by the past 

 history of our planetary system. In the evolu- 

 tion of the sun, with his attendant planets and 

 satellites, from a vast primeval mass of vapour, 

 we shall be called upon to witness a grand illus- 

 tration not only of that integration of matter 

 and concomitant dissipation of motion which is 

 the fundamental characteristic of Evolution in 

 general, but also of that change from indefinite 

 and incoherent homogeneity to definite and co- 

 herent heterogeneity which is its most striking 

 derivative feature. 



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