第203章

But we saw that these secondary re-distributions are not thus completelyexpressed. While the parts into which each whole is resolved become moreunlike one another, they also become more sharply marked off. The resultof the secondary re-distribution is therefore to change an indefinite homogeneityinto a definite heterogeneity. This additional trait also we found in evolvingaggregates of all orders. Further consideration, however, made it apparentthat the increasing definiteness which goes along with increasing heterogeneityis not an independent trait, but that it results from the integration whichprogresses in each of the differentiating parts, while it progresses in thewhole they form.

Further, it was pointed out that in all evolutions, inorganic, organic,and super-organic, this change in the arrangement of Matter is accompaniedby a parallel change in the arrangement of contained Motion: every increasein structural complexity involving a corresponding increase in functionalcomplexity. It was shown that along with the integration of molecules intomasses, there arises an integration of molecular motion in to the motionof masses; and that as fast as there results variety in the sizes and formsof aggregates and their relations to incident forces, there also resultsvariety in their movements.

The transformation thus contemplated under separate aspects, being initself but one transformation, it became needful to unite these separateaspects into a single conception -- to regard the primary and secondary redistributionsas simultaneously working their various effects. Everywhere the change froma confused simplicity to a distinct complexity, in the distribution of bothmatter and motion, is incidental to the consolidation of the matter and theloss of its internal motion. Hence the re-distribution of the matter andof its retained motion, is from a relatively diffused, uniform, and indeterminatearrangement, to a relatively concentrated, multiform, and determinate arrangement. §188. We come now to one of the additions that may be made to thegeneral argument while summing it up. Here is the fit occasion for observinga higher degree of unity in the foregoing inductions, than we observed whilemaking them.

The law of Evolution has been thus far contemplated as holding true ofeach order of existences, considered as a separate order. But the inductionas so presented, falls short of that completeness which it gains when wecontemplate these several orders of existences as forming together one naturalwhole. While we think of Evolution as divided into astronomic, geologic,biologic, psychologic, sociologic, etc., it may seem to some extent a coincidencethat the same law of metamorphosis holds throughout all its divisions. Butwhen we recognize these divisions as mere conventional groupings, made tofacilitate the arrangement and acquisition of knowledge -- when we rememberthat the different existences with which they severally deal are componentparts of one Cosmos; we see at once that there are not several kinds of Evolutionhaving certain traits in common, but one Evolution going on everywhere afterthe same manner, We have repeatedly observed that while any whole is evolving,there is always going on an evolution of the parts into which it dividesitself; but we have not observed that this equally holds of the totalityof things, which is made up of parts within parts from the greatest downto the smallest. We know that while a physically-cohering aggregate likethe human body is getting larger and taking on its general shape, each ofits organs is doing the same; that while each organ is growing and becomingunlike others, there is going on a differentiation and integration of itscomponent tissues and vessels; and that even the components of these componentsare severally increasing and passing into more definitely heterogeneous structures.

But we have not duly remarked that while each individual is developing, thesociety of which he is an insignificant unit is developing too; that whilethe aggregate mass forming a society is integrating and becoming more definitelyheterogeneous, so, too, that total aggregate, the Earth, is continuing tointegrate and differentiate; that while the Earth, which in bulk is not amillionth of the Solar System, progresses towards its more concentrated structure,the Solar System similarly progresses.

So understood, Evolution becomes not one in principle only, but one infact. There are not many metamorphoses similarly carried on, but there isa single metamorphosis universally progressing, wherever the reverse metamorphosishas not set in. In any locality, great or small, where the occupying matteracquires an appreciable individuality, or distinguishableness from othermatter, there Evolution goes on; or rather, the acquirement of this appreciableindividuality is the commencement of Evolution. And this holds regardlessof the size of the aggregate, and regardless of its inclusion in other aggregates. §189. After making them, we saw that the inductions which, takentogether, establish the law of Evolution, do not, so long as they remaininductions, form that whole rightly named Philosophy; nor does even the foregoing,from agreement into identity passage of these inductions suffice to producethe unity sought. For, as was pointed out at the time, to unify the truthsthus reached with other truths, they must be deduced from the Persistenceof Force. Our next step, therefore, was to show why, Force being persistent,the transformation which Evolution shows us necessarily results.

The first conclusion was, that any finite homogeneous aggregate must loseits homogeneity, through the unequal exposures of its parts to incident forces,and that the imperfectly homogeneous must lapse into the decidedly non-homogeneous.