the Fundamental Problem of Nature, IT 



a force gives motion to the molecule ; but out of the infinite 

 number of possible directions in which the molecule may be 

 moved the force moves it in the right direction. What is that 

 something which thus guides the force ? The force guides itself, 

 it is replied. Be it so ; but in what way does the force direct 

 or guide itself? What is the nature of that something in virtue 

 of which the force directs its actions ? Is it supposed that that 

 something belonging to the force which thus guides and directs 

 its action is itself a force ? Does the force direct itself by means 

 of a force ? if so, then we are back to our old absurdity of a force 

 determining a force. And if this directing something is not a 

 force, what is it ? But if this something is not a force, it follows 

 that there is something else to be known than mere force before 

 we can penetrate the mystery t)f nature. 



The simple truth is, in attempting to account for the deter- 

 mination of motion by referring it to b. force, we are attempting 

 an absolute impossibility. The production of motion and the 

 determination of motion are two things absolutely different in 

 their essential nature. Force produces motion ; but it is as im- 

 possible that force can determine motion as that two can be 

 equal to three, or that a thing can be and not be at the same 

 time. The necessity is as absolute in the one case as in the other. 



If any one imagines that he can conceive motion as being di- 

 rected or determined by a force, he will find, on subjecting his 

 thoughts to a proper analysis, that the determination is not due 

 to the force which he imagines, but is due to the direction in 

 which his imagined force exerts itself. The determination re- 

 sults not from his imagined force, but from the way in which 

 his force acts. 



We have been accustomed to speak of organic forms being 

 built up particle by particle by the play of molecular forces ; and 

 probably most of those who know little about science imagine 

 that scientific men attach some clear and definite idea to such a 

 statement. They naturally conclude that the scientific physicist 

 understands in some way or other how, and in what way, these 

 forces may be conceived to build up the structure ; and they no 

 doubt would feel surprised were they told, what in reality is the 

 plain truth, that the physicist who uses those terms knows just as 

 little about how the play of forces can build up an organic struc- 

 ture as he does himself. The idea has gained a footing that the 

 thing is done in some way or other by forces ; and although in 

 the mean time we cannot comprehend the manner in which it is 

 done, yet we imagine that at some future day all will be plain. 



But if it were possible that the shape ov for^m of any thing in 

 nature could be the product of a force, surely we ought by this 

 time to be able to imagine or conceive how the thing may thus 



