But. as we have lately seen, though known to us only under relation, Matteris as real in the true sense of that word, as it would be could we know itout of relation; and further, the relative reality which we know as Matter,is necessarily represented to the mind as standing in a persistent or realrelation to the absolute reality. We may therefore deliver ourselves over,without hesitation, to those terms of thought which experience has organizedin us. We need not in our physical, chemical, or other researches, refrainfrom dealing with Matter as made up of extended and resistant atoms; forthis conception, necessarily resulting from our experiences of Matter, isnot less legitimate than the conception of aggregate masses as extended andresistant. The atomic hypothesis, and the kindred hypothesis of an all-pervadingether consisting of units, are simply developments of those universal formswhich the actions of the Unknowable have wrought in us. The conclusions logicallyworked out by their aid are sure to be in harmony with all others which thesesame forms involve, and will have a relative truth that is equally complete. §49. The conception of Motion, as presented or represented in thedeveloped consciousness, involves the conceptions of Space, of Time, andof Matter. A something perceived; a series of positions occupied by it insuccession; and a group of co-existent positions united in thought with thesuccessive ones -- these are the constituents of the idea. And since, aswe have seen, these are severally elaborated from experiences of force asgiven in certain correlations, it follows that from a further synthesis ofsuch experiences, the idea of Motion is also elaborated. A certain otherelement in the idea, which is in truth its fundamental element (namely, thenecessity which the moving body is under to go on changing its position),results immediately from the earliest experiences of force. Movements ofdifferent parts of the organism in relation to one another, are the firstpresented in consciousness. These, produced by the actions of the muscles,entail reactions On consciousness in the shape of sensations of musculartension. Consequently, each stretching-out or drawing-in of a limb, is originallyknown as a series of muscular tensions, varying as the position of the limbchanges. And this rudimentary consciousness of Motion, consisting of serialimpressions of force, becomes inseparably united with the consciousnessesof Space and Time as fast as these are abstracted from other impressionsof force. Or rather, out of this primitive conception of Motion, the *****conception of it is developed simultaneously with the development of theconceptions of Space and Time: all three being evolved from the more multipliedand varied impressions of muscular tension and objective resistance.
That this relative reality answers to some absolute reality it is needfulonly for form's sake to assert. What has been said above, respecting theUnknown Cause which produces in us the effects called Matter, Space, andTime, will apply, on simply changing the terms, to Motion. §§ 50, 51. We come down, then, finally to Force, as the ultimateof ultimates. Though Space, Time, Matter, and Motion, are apparently allnecessary data of intelligence, yet a psychological analysis (here indicatedonly in rude outline) shows us that these are either built up of, or abstractedfrom, experiences of Force. Matter and Motion as we know them are concretesbuilt up from the contents of various mental relations; while Space and Timeare abstracts of the forms of these various relations. Deeper down than these,however, are the primordial experiences of Force. A single impression offorce is manifestly receivable by a sentient being devoid of mental forms.
Grant but sensibility, with no established power of thought, and a forceproducing some nervous change, will still be presentable at the supposedseat of sensation. Though no single impression of force so received, coulditself produce a consciousness (which implies relations between differentstates), yet a multiplication of such impressions, differing in kind anddegree, would give the materials for the establishment of relations, thatis, of thought. And if such relations differed in their forms as well asin their contents, the impressions of such forms would be organized simultaneouslywith the impressions they contained. It needs but to remember that consciousnessconsists of changes, to see that the ultimate datum of consciousness mustbe that of which change is the manifestation; and that thus the force bywhich we ourselves produce changes, and which serves to symbolize the causeof changes in general, is the final disclosure of analysis.
That this undecomposable mode of consciousness into which all other modesmay be decomposed, cannot be itself the Power manifested to us through phenomena,has been already proved (§18). We saw that to assume identity of naturebetween the cause of changes as it exists absolutely, and that cause of changeof which we are conscious in our own muscular efforts, betrays us into alternateimpossibilities of thought. Force, as we know it, can be regarded only asa conditioned effect of the Unconditioned Cause -- as the relative realityindicating to us an Absolute Reality by which it is immediately produced.
