登陆注册
14827600000137

第137章

Thus, then, is that increase of heterogeneity which is not a trait ofEvolution, distinguished from that increase of heterogeneity which is. Thoughin disease and after death, individual or social, the earliest modificationsare additions to the pre-existing heterogeneity, they. are not additionsto the pre-existing definiteness. From the outset they begin to destroy thisdefiniteness, and gradually produce a heterogeneity that is indeterminateinstead of determinate. As a city, already multiform in its variously-arrangedstructures of various architecture, may be made more multiform by an earthquake,which leaves part of it standing and overthrows other parts in differentways and degrees, but is at the same time reduced from orderly arrangementto disorderly arrangement; so may organized bodies be made for a time moremultiform by changes which are nevertheless disorganizing changes. And inthe one case as in the other, it is the absence of definiteness which distinguishesthe multiformity of regression from the multiformity of progression.

If advance from the indefinite to the definite is an essential characteristicof Evolution, we shall of course find it everywhere displayed; as in thelast chapter we found displayed the advance from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous.

To see whether it is so, let us now consider the same several classes offacts. §130. Beginning, as before, with a hypothetical illustration, wehave to note that each step in the evolution of the Solar System, supposingit to have originated from diffused matter, was an advance towards more definitestructure. As usually conceived, the initial nebula was irregular in shapeand with indistinct margins, like those of nebulae now existing. Having partially-differentproper motions, the parts of its attenuated substance, while being drawntogether, generated, by the averaging of their motions, as well as by changesin the directions of these motions, a certain angular momentum; and the entiremass as it concentrated and acquired rotation must have assumed the formof an oblate spheroid which with every increase of density, became more specificin outline, and had its surface more distinctly marked off from the surroundingvoid. Simultaneously, the constituent portions of nebulous matter, insteadof moving round their common centre of gravity in various planes, as theywould at first do, must have had these planes more and more merged into asingle plane, that became less vague as the concentration progressed -- becamegradually defined.

According to the hypothesis, change from indistinct characters to distinctones, was repeated in the evolution of planets and satellites. A gaseousspheroid is less definitely limited than a liquid spheroid, since it is subjectto larger undulations of surface, and to greater distortions of general form;and, similarly, a liquid spheroid, covered as it must be with waves of variousmagnitudes, tidal and other, is less definite than a solid spheroid. Thedecrease of oblateness which goes along with increase of integration, bringsrelative definiteness of other elements. A concentrating planet having anaxis inclined to the plane of its orbit, must, while very oblate, have itsplane of rotation much disturbed by external attractions; whereas its approachto a spherical form, involves a smaller precessional motion, and less markedvariations in the direction of its axis.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 奇效松筋美容法

    奇效松筋美容法

    本书主要介绍了痤疮、雀斑等美容相关疾病的松筋治疗方法,以及达到明目、润发、美白、美体、减肥等美容目的的松筋手法。
  • 破天异世录

    破天异世录

    对生活现状不满意?想要去寻求新的生活?陆宜原本的生活很安稳,甚至有些无趣。只想毕业后能抓尽天下恶徒。可因为一次遇难,陆宜来到了一个奇妙的世界。这都是命运的安排。被命运所束缚,肩扛命运之责任,冲破命运之枷锁,寻找命运之根本。直到最后,陆宜才发现,这一切的一切,都是被命运所安排好的……
  • 五代史补

    五代史补

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 平行时空之明星大主播

    平行时空之明星大主播

    一枚小吊丝重生平行时空成为大主播的故事。打造一个无敌的主角,主要以轻松娱乐为主。
  • 世界并不美好

    世界并不美好

    对世界的认识没有想象中的那么简单,世界可以美好,却也可以不美好,可真亦可假。或许你觉得美好的却是假的,你觉得丑陋的却是真的。
  • 重生归途

    重生归途

    旅居英国的何代坤在15岁生日的当天收到国内父亲寄来的“生日礼物”——三本厚厚的古董硬面抄,并警告自己马上离开家以躲避突如其来的家族风暴。随之而来的重重危险笼罩在何代坤的周围,他从硬面抄中得知了锦都沈家自1939年起直至今日的系列波澜,并被告知自己则是这一系列波澜最终围绕的目标。他带着疑问和自保的目的,层层剥丝抽茧;带着“重振沈氏”的希望,走向最后的争斗和结局。
  • 国妖传

    国妖传

    国家将亡,必有妖孽。帝国倾覆之后,生灵涂炭,群魔乱舞。小道人身有隐疾,本为寻医问药证大道,却卷入红尘世间一怒拔剑,从此成就灭妖传说。
  • 最强娱乐家

    最强娱乐家

    三流歌星余乐穿越到了一个类似于地球的世界,脑子里多了一个可以搜索的智能手机,从此世界暴走!“余乐,你丫再不出专辑我要去你家后门堵你!”“余乐,快点更新,是不是又想收刀片了!”“余乐,作为老婆粉的我实在是看不下去你和天后演吻戏了!我要脱粉一分钟!”“宝宝不管,宝宝摔倒了,要余乐亲亲抱抱才能站起来!”平行的世界,余乐的明星梦,从这里开始。
  • 灵魂救赎商

    灵魂救赎商

    酆都冥王之子福地少不更事,捣乱地府秩序,不小心掉入六道轮回隧道投胎至凡间出生,他18岁那年灵性恢复大发神威,看尽了凡间的善恶,遂开辟了一种新的灵魂玩法灵魂不可卖,买卖需谨慎,南无释迦摩尼佛......
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)