Mans Ancient Truth And Its Place in Democracy

scale of force and matter. There are (1) the plane of elements; (2) the plane of chemical compounds; (3) the plane of vegetable life; (4) the plane of animal life; and (5) the plane of rational and, as we hope, immortal life. Each plane has its own appropriate force and distinctive phenomena. "On the first, operates physical force, producing physical phenomena only, for the operation of chemical affinity immediately raises matter to the next plane. "On the second plane, operates, in addition to physical, also chemical force, producing all those changes by action and reaction the study of which constitutes the science of chemistry. "On the third plane, in addition to the two preceding forces with their characteristic phenomena, operates also life-force producing the distinctive phenomena characteristic of living things. "On the fourth plane, in addition to all the lower forces and their phenomena, operates also a higher form of life-force characteristic of animals, producing the phenomena characteristic of sentient life, such as sensation, consciousness and will. "On the fifth plane, in addition to all the preceding forces and phenomena, we have also the forces and phenomena characteristic of rational and moral life. "Now, although there are doubtless great differences of level on each of these planes, yet there is a very distinct break between each. Although there are various degrees of force characteristic of each, yet the differences between th...