THE MECHANICAL SYSTEM AND ITS LIMITS 363 



Thus the ultimate particles of bodies would not be 

 infinitely varied. But who can tell us that these 

 ultimate elements, the atoms, do not differ from each 

 other ? No one has ever seen an atom. We know, 

 at all events, that when we break up an element such 

 as gold we do not produce absolutely identical 

 particles ; they always differ in contour, in size, or 

 other characters, as we see clearly when we examine 

 them carefully, if possible with a microscope. It is 

 true that they have much in common, but they are 

 not therefore equal. If it is said that their differences 

 are so slight that we may overlook them, the state- 

 ment is arbitrary, and not based on the nature of 

 things. It is not at all evident in nature that the 

 general is more important than the individual. 



When we see a couple of horses at a distance they 

 often seem to be alike, but we find on going nearer 

 that they are different. It is certain that the particles of 

 the elements differ more from each other than our 

 feeble eyes can detect. Finally, for all we know it may 

 be that if we pushed our analysis far enough we should 

 come to elements with nothing in common. 



The third infinity is the diversity of phenomena and 

 bodies that meets our eyes. A science that would 

 investigate the world cannot master its material ; the 

 infinitely numerous and varied bodies and processes 

 cannot be described in detail, much less investigated. 



Must we then fold our arms ? Can we never grasp 

 reality as it is. 



No. No human mind can grasp the world as it is. 



