First Principles of a New System of Philosophy |
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absolute abstract action aggregate amount animals arise assert atoms become belief body carbonic acid cause centre centre of gravity changes chemical common complete compound conceived conception conclusion consciousness constitute continue correlation definite differentiation diffused direction Earth effects equally equilibration equilibrium Evolution exhibited existence external fact faint manifestations further gravity groups heat Hence Herbert Spencer heterogeneous homogeneous hypothesis ideas illustrations implies incident forces increase inference infinite infinite divisibility integration John Herschel kind knowledge lative less limit mass matter ment mental modes modified molecular motion movements moving multiform muscular nature nebular hypothesis object objective science organic ovum persistence of force phenomena Philosophy plants position present produced progress quantity relations relative Religion rhythm Science secondary re-distributions separate similarly Sir William Hamilton social Solar System space species surface things thought tion transformation truth ultimate undergo uniform units unlike vivid manifestations whole
Popular passages
Page 396 - Evolution is an integration of matter and concomitant dissipation of motion ; during which the matter passes from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity to a definite, coherent heterogeneity ; and during which the retained motion undergoes a parallel transformation.
Page 75 - As the conditionally limited (which we may briefly call the Conditioned) is thus the only possible object of knowledge and of positive thought, — thought necessarily supposes condition. To think is to condition ; and conditional limitation is the fundamental law of the possibility of thought.
Page 170 - Force, as we know it, can be regarded only as a certain conditioned effect of the Unconditioned Cause — as the relative reality indicating to us an Absolute Reality by which it is immediately produced.
Page 87 - Besides that definite consciousness of which Logic formulates the laws, there is also an indefinite consciousness which cannot be formulated. Besides complete thoughts, and besides the thoughts which though incomplete admit of completion, there are thoughts which it is impossible to complete; and yet which are still real, in the sense that they are normal affections of the intellect.
Page 39 - ... from this apparent contradiction by introducing the idea of succession in time. The absolute exists first by itself, and afterwards becomes a cause. But here we are checked by the third conception, that of the infinite. How can the infinite become that which it was not from the first? If causation is a possible mode of existence, that which exists without causing is not infinite; that which becomes a cause has passed beyond its former limits.
Page 398 - And it has to bo shown that this universality of process, results from the same necessity which determines each simplest movement around us, down to the accelerated fall of a stone or the recurrent beat of a harp-string. In other words, the phenomena of Evolution have to be deduced from the Persistence of Force. As before said— '' to this an ultimate analysis brings us down; and on this a rational synthesis must build up.
Page 545 - Cosmos; we see at once that there are not several kinds of Evolution having certain traits in common, but one Evolution going on everywhere after the same manner.
Page 20 - And if both have bases in the reality of things, then between them there must be a fundamental harmony.
Page 3 - WE too often forget that not only is there " a soul of goodness in things evil," but very generally also, a soul of truth in things erroneous.
Page 113 - By continually seeking to know and being continually thrown back with a deepened conviction of the impossibility of knowing, we may keep alive the consciousness that it is alike our highest wisdom and our highest duty to regard that through which all things exist as The Unknowable.