THE WONDERS OF LIFE 



these three attributes in connection with the law of 

 substance. 



A. Matter. — As extended substance, matter occupies 

 infinite space, and each individual body fomis a part of 

 the universe as real substance. The law of the conserva- 

 tion of matter teaches us that the sum of matter is 

 eternal and unchangeable. This applies equally to the 

 various kinds of matter which we call the chemical 

 elements, or ponderable matter, and to the ether that 

 fills the spaces^ between the atoms and molecules, or 

 imponderable matter. The mischievous depreciation of 

 matter (and the consequent disdain of materialism) 

 and its antithesis to "spirit" is partly due to the use 

 of such phrases as "raw" and "dead" matter, and 

 partly to the deep-rooted mysticism we have inher- 

 ited from barbaric ancestors, and find it hard to shake 

 off. 



B. Energy. — All parts of the substance that fills in- 

 finite space are in constant and eternal motion. Every 

 chemical process and every physical phenomenon is 

 accompanied by a change in the position of the particles 

 which compose the matter. The law of the conserva- 

 tion of energy teaches us that the sum of force or energy 

 that is ever at work in the universe is unchangeable. In 

 the formation or decomposition of a chemical compound 

 the particles of matter move about, and so in every 

 mechanical, thermic, electric, and other process. The 

 changes that take place depend on a constant change of 

 force, both in organic and inorganic bodies; one fonn of 

 force is converted into another without a particle of the 

 whole being lost. This law of the conservation of force 

 has lately been called, as a rule, the conservation of 

 energy (or the principle of energy) since the ideas of 

 force and energy have been more clearly distinguished 

 in physics ; energy is now usually defined as the product 

 of force and direction. It must be noted, however, that 



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