234 



THE EIDDLE OF THE UNIVERSE. 



as in the following scheme which I take from my 



Monism : — 



The World (Nature, or the Cosmos). 



The two groups of functions of matter, which we have 

 opposed in this table, may, to some extent, be regarded 

 as the outcome of the first "division of labour " in the 

 development of matter, the " primary ergonomy of 

 matter." But this distinction must not be supposed 

 to involve an absolute separation of the two antithetic 

 groups ; they always retain their connection, and are 

 in constant reciprocal action. It is well known that 

 the optical and electrical phenomena of ether are 

 closely connected with mechanical and chemical 

 changes in ponderable elements ; the radiant heat of 

 ether may be directly converted into the mechanical 

 heat of the mass ; gravitation is impossible unless the 

 ether effects the mutual attraction of the separated 

 atoms, because we cannot admit the idea of an actio 

 in distans. In like manner, the conversion of one 

 form of energy into another, as indicated in the law 



