their force, and starving animals the whole of their force, from decaying tissue.
13. There are several general thoughts suggested by this subject, which I wish to present in conclusion:
a. We have said there are four planes of matter raised one above the other: 1. Elements; 2. Chemical compounds; 3. Vegetables; 4. Animals. Their relative position is truly represented thus:
4. Animal.
3. Plants.
2. Chemical compounds.
1. Elements.
Now, there are also four planes of force similarly related to each other, viz., physical force, chemical force, vitality, and will. On the first plane of matter operates physical force only; for chemical force immediately raises matter into the second plane. On the second plane operates, in addition to physical, also chemical force. On the third plane operates, in addition to physical and chemical, also vital force. On the fourth plane, in addition to physical, chemical, and vital, also the force characteristic of animals, viz., will.[1] With each eleva-
- ↑ I might add still another plane and another force, viz., the human plane, on which operate, in addition to all the lower forces, also free-will and reason. I do not speak of these, only because they lie beyond the present ken of inductive science.
