250 



Thoughts on Causality. 



least five species. 1 Within a few years we confidently expect 

 to find their respective lines of sequence converging at the 

 farther limit of the phenomenal world ; but here we are, 

 at that limit, and we find five separate threads of causation 

 emerging from the realm beyond that boundary. 



In addition to this, we have the phenomena of life, back 

 of which we discern a force which, so far as we know, is 

 not a transformation of any other energy. True it is, that 

 the vehicle, and instrument, and sensible expression of life 

 is a material organism, whose building up is chiefly the 

 work of molecular forces. True it is, that the mode of ex- 

 pression and manifestation of life is and must be, coordi- 

 nated to this sole and material medium of expression. But 

 that which we call life plays the part of a force which con- 

 ditions the activity of the molecular forces; has never 

 been produced by the transmutation of any of them ; can- 

 not be approached by any of the methods of physics, nor 

 brought, like a physical force, within the grasp of numer- 

 ical formulation. 



The other point to be noted is, that the supreme intelli- 

 gent spontaneity, as we are thus led by science and reason 

 to think it, is revealed to us in our own mental constitution, 

 whose laws afford us the only attainable ground of cer- 

 tainty; whose delegated spontaneity is a picture of the 

 absolute will ; whose intelligence takes hold on the thoughts 

 expressed in the cosmos, and finds them comprehensible, 

 admirable and satisfying; and, whose conscience, while it 

 finds among men the fitting theatre for its activities, dis- 



L Non-polar 1 ^ Gravitation 



f Aggregates -] p , (In magnets " 1 povv ' Magnetism 



■Attractions' Z7 . 1 Electricity 



1 Molecules i L>ke molecules , Cohesion 



L ( I nhke molecules WpSw. Affinity 



Repulsions 5th Repulsion 



xr;. ( Low intensity Heat 



\ibrations } Uitfh intengi £ y Light 



Mechanical force and motion, so far as I can see, are always effects of one 

 or more of the above forms of force. 



