"Definite," for example, is hardly a physical idea at all. Every
motion and every arrangement of matter is definitely what it is,--a fog
or an irregular scrawl, as much so as a billiard ball or a straight
line. Spencer means by definiteness in a thing any character that
makes it arrest our attention, and forces us to distinguish it from
other things. The word with him has a human, not a physical
connotation. Definite things, in his book, finally appear merely as
_things that men have made separate names for_, so that there is hardly
a pretence of the mechanical view being kept. Of course names increase
as human history proceeds, so "definiteness" in things must necessarily
more and more evolve.
"Coherent," again. This has the definite mechanical meaning of
resisting separation, of sticking together; but Spencer plays fast and
loose with this meaning. Coherence with him sometimes means
_permanence in time_, sometimes such _mutual dependence of parts_ as is
realized in a widely scattered system of no fixed material
configuration; a commercial house, for example, with its "travellers"
and ships and cars.
An honestly mechanical reader soon rubs his eyes with bewilderment at
the orgy of ambiguity to which he is introduced. Every term in
Spencer's fireworks shimmers through a whole spectrum of meanings in
order to adapt itself to the successive spheres of evolution to which
it must apply. "Integration," for instance. A definite coherence is
an Integration; and examples given of integration are the contraction
of the solar nebula, the formation of the earth's crust, the
calcification of cartilage, the shortening of the body of crabs, the
loss of his tail by man, the mutual dependence of plants and animals,
the growth of powerful states, the tendency of human occupations to go
to distinct localities, the dropping of terminal inflexions in English
grammar, the formation of general concepts by the mind, the use of
machinery instead of simple tools, the development of "composition" in
the fine arts, etc., etc. It is obvious that no one form of the motion
of matter characterizes all these facts. The human ones simply embody
the more and more successful pursuit of certain ends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account