978 On Catagenesis. (October, 
From this point of view creation consists in specialization, an 
expression which describes the specific action of the general 
principle described by Spencer as the conversion of the homo- 
geneous into the heterogeneous, To be more explicit, it con- 
sists of the production of mechanism out of no mechanism, of 
different kinds of energy out of one kind of energy. The mate- 
rial basis of consciousness must then be a generalized substance 
which does not display the more automatic and the polar forms 
of energy. From a physical standpoint protoplasm is such a 
substance. Its instability indicates weakness of chemical energy 
also, which suggests that the complexity of its molecule may be 
due to some form of energy not properly chemical. The readi- 
ness with which it undergoes retrograde metamorphosis shows 
that it is not self-sustaining, and furnishes a good illustration of 
creation of specialized substances by a running down in the scale 
of being. Loew and Bokorny' suggest that “the cause of the 
living movements in protoplasm is to be sought for ia the intense 
atomic movements, and therefore easy metamorphosis of its 
aldehyde groups. of components;” the molecular movement 
becoming molar, to use the language of Lester Ward, The posi- 
tion which I now present requires the reversal of the relations of 
these phenomena. Generalized. matter must be supposed to be 
capable of more varied molecular movements than specialized 
matter, and it is believed that the most intense of all such move- 
ments are those of brain tissue in. mental, action, which are fur 
thest removed of all from molar movements. From this point 
of view, when molar movements are derived from molecular 
movements, it is by a process of running down of energy, not 
elevation; by an increase of the distance from, mental energy, 
not an approximation. to it. 
The fact that the physical basis. of consciousness is composed 
of four substances, which are respectively a monad, @ dyad, @ 
triad and a tetrad, doubtless has something to do, as I have ee 
gested; with its exhibition ofthis, remarkable attribute. It might 
__ be supposed that the presence of carbon had the effect of restrain- 
: ing the chemical and. physical molecular tendencies of the three 
(other substances. From. this. standing-ground. we. may imagine 
Pe Kos , Chemische Kraftquelle in Lebenden Protoplasma, von O. Loew u. T. Bor 
korny, Munich, 1882, 1 
Penn Monthly, 1875, p. 574., 
