the same, changing only the form and combined constitution of its resultant-actual world in involution.

Accordingly, the first fundamental idea of our Physiological Theory is to proclaim scientific Monotheism in the place of Materialism, which, with its atoms and multiple abstract forces is a real idolatry, and finally, also, in the place of the incredulity of Empiricism, which pretends to be scientific without theories.

PART I.

ANALYSIS OF COSMOS: ANALYTICAL CONCEPT OF MATTER.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL CONCEPT OF MATTER: (A) ULTIMATE ABSTRACTIONS OR CONCEPTUAL ELEMENTS OF MATTER.

§ 11. Brief definition of the four elemental concepts of matter-§ 12. Concept of substance explained-§ 13. Concept of activity explained— § 14. Concept of space explained-§ 15. Concept of time explained— § 16. Real or concrete concept of movement.

§ II. BRIEF DEFINITION OF THE FOUR CONCEPTUAL ELEMENTS OF MATTER.

The simplest notions of the understanding, i.e. the fundamental or elemental concepts-classes of ultimate abstractions are complementary ideas, which, in order to express knowledge, or even suppositions, must be combined in themselves, for they are nothing in reality if considered apart from one another; if their signification is complementary their validity is only ideal, as by composition alone can they enunciate real truths. Simple conceptions, then, are distinguished from pro

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positions; the last are complete ideas or speeches by which we express either knowledge or suppositions ; the first are necessities for thought to express the truths from which we are enabled to make our reflections, that is, inductions or generalizations, and deductions or definite determinations which are derived by the application of the general truth of an induction to particular

cases.

Natural science contains at bottom some conceptions that are but suppositions concerning the connection of material changes; yet such connections, although selfevident truths, are not at all perceived by our senses. Thus, for instance, we suppose substance as the supporter of material changes, and we take it for granted that activity is the interchange of substance. We also assume things existing in space as the extension they must occupy; and time as the duration of some change. None of these four fundamental conceptions of material things" substance," "activity," "space," and "time"are objects or things of immediate perception; they are, of course, only theoretical or speculative ideas, but they are indispensable to the so-called positive knowledge of nature or physiological propositions, because these could not even be conceived without the connection among such elemental ideas. Now, these simple conceptions, being necessarily used in every scientific proposition, must be known in their true signification, in order to avoid in Physiology erroneous suppositions of the causal connection of natural phenomena. Thus, for instance, when we say, according to irreflexive observation, that light is of many colours, we only suppose colour as an attribute of light; but in studying the real meaning of attributive conceptions concerning

objects we learn that there is no possible difference in the quality or essence of substance and of natural activity, and that all objective differences are relative, that is, in the connections of space and time. So we may affirm, after our principles of investigation have been rightly interpreted by reflexive thought, that if two lights differ in colour that difference is only relative, and consequently, colour can be essentially affirmed as a relation and not as an essential or qualitative connection-attribution. This argument is applicable to all and every one of the judgments concerning objective knowledge when subjects and predicates are simply combined as substantives and their qualitative attributes, and in this way we see that thought constantly rectifies the ideas acquired by immediate or irreflexive experience. Always bear in mind that in simple conceptions we have only the elements necessary for thought to reach the fundamental proposition of Physiology, not by deduction but only by generalization or induction of the fact of inertia, with the sole guarantee of our belief in the uniformity of nature, because anything to the contrary is inconceivable and contradictory to the most insignificant affirmation of scientific knowledge.

We have mentioned two universal intuitions; one is substance, which is the nominal attributive; the other is activity, which is the real attribute. When we reflect upon these intuitions we either infer subjective ideas— qualities; or we calculate objective ideas—quantities. These last are reduced to two classes of terms-space and time, which, as we shall see, are products of mental reflection and not mere intuitions.

Hence the conceptual elements or concepts of matter are Substance, Activity, Space, and Time. The word

substance is the conceptual term for the ultimate abstraction of all the attributions that can be a subject in a grammatical or nominal sense. The word activity is the conceptual term for the ultimate abstraction of all predicate attributions. The word space is the conceptual term for the ultimate abstraction of all the relations of extension and distance. And the word time is the conceptual term for the ultimate abstraction of all the relations of duration.

We must clearly fix the meaning of these four terms, as many doctrinal errors arise from some ontological interpretations. Limiting their scientific signification to their cosmic or physiological concept, according to which they are the ultimate abstractions from extrinsic or cosmic perceptions (not extending it to their absolute comprehension as universal or metaphysic), we will still further define the expressed terms in the following

manner —

I. Cosmic substance (that is, in the material or physiological sense) is the nominal notion common to all objects, that is to say, to all things perceived by the senses, abstraction being made of activity, space, and time.

2. Cosmic activity (that is, in the material or physiological sense) is the general notion of the attributive predicate applied to all objects; that is, movement, abstraction being made of substance, space, and time.

3. Cosmic space is the extension of matter, abstraction being made of substance, activity, and time.

4. Cosmic time is the duration of a part, or of the whole of the material system, abstraction being made of substance, activity and space.

According to the definitions here given we classify