2 34 FORMULAS OF THE LAW OF EVOLUTION. 



the last chapter (§ 12), the evidence points not only 

 at their dissociation into simpler forms of matter, 

 but at something radically different and very much 

 more interesting. Mr. Crookes' ingenious infer- 

 ences from the subtle differences he has discovered 

 among the molecules of the same " element " irre- 

 sistibly suggest that the atoms and molecules out 

 of which it is composed still possess individual 

 differences and individual characters. And so, at 

 the very lowest grade of cosmic evolution, we 

 should still detect the persistence of individual 

 entities combined with others into social systems ; 

 and though our elements be complex, their name 

 would not be wholly undeserved, in that their 

 structure is simpler and their generation earlier than 

 that of any other forms of sensible matter. 



§ 1 7. But what lies beyond ? Can we penetrate 

 beyond the evolution of the elements ? In one 

 sense we can not ; the primitive condition of things 

 which precedes Evolution forms the zero-point of 

 Evolution, the absolute negation of the process in 

 which Evolution consists. 



But if we recognize that we are now deallnof with 

 a state of things generlcally different from that of 

 cosmic evolution, we may yet form certain theories 

 about the pre-cosmic conditions of the world- 

 process. Indeed, we may be troubled by alternative 

 theories, according as we adopt more or less ad- 

 vanced views about the evolution of the elements. 

 If we accept Mr. Crookes' theory of prothyle, the 

 question vanishes, for, being anterior to the differ- 

 entiation Into atoms. It leaves room neither for 

 individuals nor for their combination. But prothyle 

 is nothing (ch. vii. § 14), or rather, a symbol standing 

 for the action of spiritual forces (ch. vii. § 18) : If, 



