42 
C. L. Herrick 
speculation is that the predicate of materiality has no place in 
the system. The theoretical primitive perfect fluid is not 
matter — it is not force, but a form of activity whose necessary 
attribute is spontaneity. Such activity we have proposed to 
call ^^pure energy/’ ignoring for the time being the conflicting 
usages of that term, and it is claimed that the postulate of spon- 
taneity is no more unthinkable than any other universal. Unde- 
monstrahle it certainly is, but it fulfils our one necessary condition 
of congruousness. 
If it appears that spontaneity is logically inharmonizable with 
the attribute of resistance, we admit that it is indeed destruc- 
tively so, but when energy is transformed into conflicting, or 
rather interfering, modes, force is generated, whose very essence 
and measure is resistance and whose laws have already become 
familiar as various equations of this resistance. Every instance 
of transformation of force involves a reconversion to energy — - 
an equilibrium of any kind removes resistance, and energy emerges 
with its own peculiar attribute of spontaneity. 
We submit that when the idea of a perfectly elastic medium is 
substituted for by that of pure spontaneity the difficulties largely 
disappear. Gravitation, inertia, and, in short, all so-called proper- 
ties of the atom, are products of the equilibrium of forces and the 
energy liberated. Change of direction is inexplicable upon the 
theory of the conservation of forces; but if we recognize the liber- 
ation of energy in the moment of equilibrium, and introduce the 
element of spontaneity, the difficulty disappears. It is con- 
fidently believed that, given spontaneity, or pure energy, as the 
fundamental concept, the domain of physics (becoming, as it 
does, the doctrine of resistance or tensions) has a clear field for 
the attainment of the goal which Dr. Hicks points out. All on 
the hither side of energy belongs to physics ; all on the further side 
of the transformation to energy is metaphysics. 
Empirical psychology as a branch of physics deals with the 
interactions of forces, but speculative psychology is not restrained 
from imagining the nature of the spontaneities back of the phe- 
nomena. The prominent mathematician already mentioned writes : 
I am willing to accept the hypothesis that the so-called properties of 
atoms, etc., are immediate and direct manifestations of divine power 
which created and now upholds them and that the unchanging charac- 
ter of natural law may l)e as much a necessity of that manifestation as 
