Mögliche Übernahmen aus Alexander Winchells World Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(36%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...and repulsion, which, as we have seen, necessitate rhythm
in all minor changes throughout the Universe, also neces-
rhythm in the totality of its changes
produce now
an immeasurable period during which the attractive forces
predominating cause universal concentration, and then an
sitate
immeasurable period, during which the repulsive forces
alternate eras
predominating cause universal diffusion
of Evolution and Dissolution." * These recurrences of
*
Spencer: First Principles, 483.
GENERAL REFRIGERATION.
cosmical activity and rest were traced in
and designated "The Cycles of Matter."
my essay of
495
1860,
The reorganization of a Universe in which the series
of events has reached the last term attainable by action
according to known laws, presents before us a problem of
the same order as that of the origination of matter and
It may not be necessary to despair of the disenergy.
covery of the natural means of recuperation of worn-out
systems; but, as long as the means remain...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* It is curious to notice how, in the evolutionary cycles of ideas, ancient thought
seems to be reflected in modern speculation. Had Mr. Herbert Spencer read and
studied ancient Hindu philosophers when he wrote a certain passage in his " First
Principles " (p. 482), or is it an independent flash of inner perception that made him
say half correctly, half incorrectly, " motion as well as matter, being fixed in quantity
(?), it would seem that the change in the distribution of Matter which Motion effects,
coming to a limit in whichever direction it is carried (?), the indestructible Motion
thereupon necesitates a reverse distribution. Apparently, the universally co-existent
forces of attraction and repulsion which, as we have seen, necessitate rhythm in all
minor changes throughout the Universe, also necessitate rhythm in the totality of its
changes—produce now an immeasurable period during which the attracting forces
predominating, cause universal concentration, and then an immeasurable period,
during which the repulsive forces predominating, cause universal diffusion—alternate
eras of Evolution and dissolution."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...of
solids, fixed
a perpetual circulatory worker, generating fluids
things out of volatile, and volatile out
of fixed; subtile out of gross, and gross out of subtile;
to ascend and make the upper terrestrial
some things
juices,
rivers
and the atmosphere, and by consequence,
others to descend for a requital to the former.
And as
the earth, so perhaps may the sun imbibe this spirit copi-
ously to conserve his shining and keep the planets from
receding further from him; and they that will may also
suppose that this
*
spirit affords or carries
Newton:
Optics,
Bk.
III.
Query
with
28, 1704.
it
thither
WORLD-STUFF.
51
the solary fuel and material principle of life, and that the
vast ethereal spaces between us and the stars are for a
food of the sun and planets."
higher generalization, he adds:
"
Perhaps the whole frame of nature may be nothing but
various contextures of some certain ethereal spirits or
sufficient repository for this
Then
to
rising
a
still
vapors...
(2%) Monographien/Hunt, T. Sterry (1882) Celestial Chemistry from the Time of Newton.pdf [view file]
...circulatory worker, generating fluids
out of solids, and solids out of fluids, fixed things out of volatile, and Volatile out of fixed, subtile out of gross, and gross out
of subtde; some things to ascend and make the upper terrestrial juices, rivers, and the atmosphere, and by consequence
others to descend for a requital to the former.
And as the
earth, so perhaps may the sun imbibe this spirit copiously, to
conserve nis shining, and keep the planets from receding farther from him; and they that will may also suppose that this
spirit affords or carries with it thither the solary fuel and material principle of life, and that the vast etherial spaces between
us and the stars are for a sufficient repository for this food of
the sun and planets."
The lano;uage of this last sentence, in which his late biographer, Sir David Brewster, regards Newton as "amusing himself
with the extravagance of his speculations," at which " we may
be allowed to smile/'* was not apparently regarded as...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROEM. far more numerous than those known to Science) are simply conditional
modifications and aspects of the one and only Element. This latter is
not Ether,* not even A'kâsa but the Source of these. The Fifth Element,
now advocated quite freely by Science, is not the Ether hypothesised by
Sir Isaac Newton—although he calls it by that name, having associated
it in his mind probably with the AEther, " Father-Mother" of Antiquity.
As Newton intuitionally says, "Nature is a perpetual circulatory
worker, generating fluids out of solids, fixed things out of volatile, and
volatile out of fixed, subtile out of gross, and gross out of subtile.
. . . . Thus, perhaps, may all things be originated from Ether,"
(Hypoth, 1675).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
nebular mass comparatively minute, impinging upon a
mass of any dimensions, would inevitably generate a rotalar
tion, in every case except when the centres of gravity of
the two masses moved toward the same point, and (unless
moving
reach
it
in the
same staight line) with such velocities as to
same instant. This is a case which is im-
at the
*Rev. W. B. Slaughter says: "It
is to be regretted that the advocates of
have not entered more largely into the discussion of it
of
No
one condescends to givo us the rationale of it.
[the origin
rotary motion].
How does the process of cooling and contracting the mass impart to it a rotary
motion?" (The Modern Genesis, p. 48.) Even Hclmholtz says the rotation
this [nebular] theory
"must be assumed." (Interaction of Natural Forces, Youman's
Popular Scientific Lectures, 175.)
ed.,
231;
NEBULAR ROTATION.
95
I have heretofore
possible in the ratio of millions to one.
stated that when the two bodies consist of matter as dense
and a cold...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a polemical scientific work, " The Modern Genesis," the author, the Rev. W. B.
Slaughter, criticising the position assumed by the astronomers, asks:—" It is to be
regretted that the advocates of this (nebular) theory have not entered more largely into
the discussion of it (the beginning of rotation). No one condescends to give us the
rationale of it. How does the process of cooling and contracting the mass impart to it a
rotatory motion?" The question is amply treated in the Addendum. It is not
materialistic science that can ever solve it. " Motion is eternal in the unmanifested,
and periodical in the manifest,'' says an Occult teaching. It is " when heat caused
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...orbits in the
same
direction.
2.
The sun
rotates on his axis in the
same direction as
the planets revolve in their orbits.
All the planets, except Uranus and probably Nep3.
tune, rotate on their axes in the same direction.
4.
same
Uranus and Nep-
All the satellites revolve in their orbits in the
direction, except those of the planets
tune.
5. The moon rotates on its axis
and no satellite is known to rotate
in
the same direction;
in the opposite direc-
tion.
6.
The planes
of
all
the planetary orbits are nearly
coincident.
7. The plane of Neptune's orbit is almost exactly coincident with the invariable plane of the solar system. (See
3, 1.)
8.
The planes
of
all
the planetary orbits in the course
approach nearly to coincidence
of their secular oscillations
with the invariable plane; and the orbits of Venus, the
Earth and Mars attain to complete coincidence.
(See
3,1.)
9. The planes of the secondary orbits are all nearly
coincident with the planes of the equators...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ " The Sun rotates on his axis always in the same direction in which the planets
revolve in their respective orbits," astronomy teaches us. fire, the great symbol of deity. ioi planetary world), and he is one of the three chief deities. He is called
indifferently the Son of Dyaus and of Aditi, because no distinction is
made with reference to, or scope allowed for, the esoteric meaning.
Thus he is depicted as drawn by seven horses, and by one horse with
seven heads ; the former referring to his seven planets, the latter to
their one common origin from the One Cosmic Element. This " One
Element" is called figuratively "Fire." The Vedas (Aitareya-Brâhmana of Haug also ; p. i.) teach "that the fire verily is all the deities."
(Narada in Anugîtâ).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(50%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...rotation of the earth about an axis
was taught by the Pythagorean Hicetas, probably as
It was also taught by his pupil Ecearly as 500 B.C.
phantus, and by Heraclides, a pupil of Plato. The immobility of the sun and the orbital rotation of the earth
were shown by Aristarchus of Samos as early as 281 B.C.,
to be suppositions accordant with facts of observation.
The heliocentric theory was also taught, about 150 B.C.,
by Seleucus of Seleucia on the Tigris.* It is said also
that Archimedes, in a work entitled Psammites, incul* Compare
Delambre
:
Whewell: History of
Astronomte Ancienne.
the Inductive Sciences,
551
Am.
ed.
i,
259;
PRE-KANTIAN SPECULATIONS.
552
cated
the
heliocentric
theory.
The
sphericity of the
distinctly taught by Aristotle, who appealed
for proof to the figure of the earth's shadow on the moon
in eclipses.*
The same idea was defended by Pliny, f
earth
was
These views seem to have been lost from knowledge for
more than a thousand years. In 1356, Sir...
(1%) Monographien/Slaughter, Rev. W.B. (1876) The Modern Genesis.pdf [view file]
...axis of rotation. Then the
plane of a planet's orbit must be at right
angles with the axis of the cosmical sphere.
that is to say that the plane of the planet's
And
orbit and the plane of the cosmical equator
must be exactly coincident. There can be no
inclination of the one plane to the other.
In the nebular theory the only force operagive the detached planet an orbital
ting to
motion
is
the centrifugal force.
Could we
find
other planetary bodies occupying situations in
space outside this plane, we should then have
in gravitation a force
by which the planetary
might be deflected from the plane of
but we are obliged to exoriginal rotation
clude all such suppositions. We must keep in
orbit
;
mind
that
"All
the marvelous uniformities of
the solar system are but the progeny
of that
primitive impulse which originated the grand
rotation"
That there are perturbations in the orbital
movements of the planets which can be traced
Direction of Planetary Motions.
to their...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* " The doctrine of the rotation of the earth about an axis is taught by the Pythagorean Hicetas, probably as early as 500 B.C. It was also taught by his pupil
Ecphantus, and by Heraclides, a pupil of Plato. The immobility of the Sun and the
orbital rotation of the earth were shown by Aristarchus of Samos as early as 281 B.C.
to be suppositions accordant with facts of observation. The Heliocentric theory was
taught about 150 B.C., by Seleucus of Seleucia on the Tigris.— [It was taught 500 B.C.
by Pythagoras.—H.P.B.] It is said also that Archimedes, in a work entitled Psam-mites, inculcated the Heliocentric theory. The sphericity of the earth was distinctly
taught by Aristotle, who appealed for proof to the figure of the Earth's shadow on the
moon in eclipses (Aristotle, De Coelo, lib. II., cap. XIV.). The same idea was defended
by Pliny (Nat. Hist., II., 65). These views seem to have been lost from knowledge
for more than a thousand years. . . ." (Comparative Geology, Part IV., " Pre-Kantian
Speculation," p. 551, by Alex. Winchell, LL.D.).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...planets accordingly have run their courses equally,
and have
alike attained the death
which
levels all dis-
tinctions.
Under any theory the four remoter
planets present
conditions widely different from those of our
In the view here suggested, the three remoter
planet.
planets evince conditions of constitution so diverse from
those of the earth that the terrestrial state can never have
existing
been assumed, though the terrestrial stage may long since
have been passed.
These planets roll on through the still
and changeless winter of their planetary life
globes of
crystal
wrapped
ray is unable to
a living world.
in
stagnant fogs which the sun's feeble
stir to
the
movements which
characterize
THE ULTRA-JOVIAN PLAXETS.
449
Radius,
miles,
and Earths 1.
jiil
Surface.
Earth
= 1.
Volume.
Earth =1.
J_8_
u
8
i
i
Mass. Earth=l
2
8
Density.
Earth
ti
l
=
1.
Solar Intensity.
III
Earth=l
at
f*i^
Cosmic Periods.
Earth=l
Solar Tidal
Efficiency.
Earth=l.
Linear...
(1%) Monographien/Figuier, Louis (1874) The Day After Death; or, Our Future Life, According to Science.pdf [view file]
...astronomy and physics, which
refer to the subject.
wishes to be instructed
We
therefore refer
the reader, who-
upon the question of the
possibility
of the planets being inhabited, to M. Flammarion's works.
CHAPTEE THE EOUKTEEOTH.
THAT WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE UPON THE EARTH WITH REGARD TO THE CREATION OF ORGANIZED BEINGS HAS PROBABLY ALSO TAKEN PLACE IN THE OTHER PLANETS.
THE
SUCCESSIVE ORDER OF THE APPEARANCE OF LIVING BEINGS
ON OUR GLOBE.
SUCCESSION HAS
THIS SAME
TAKEN PLACE IN EACH OF THE PLANETS.
PROBABLY
PLANETARY MAN.
THE PLANETARY, LIKE THE TERRESTRIAL MAN,
IS
TRANS-
FORMED, AFTER DEATH, INTO A SUPERHUMAN BEING, AND
PASSES INTO THE ETHER.
<E
believe,
with M.
Camille Elammarion, that
organized beings exist in
are these beings
who
accompanied, like
type
!
This
is
terrestrial
the subject which
processes
epoch of
all
by
man, by a superior
analogy,
our only means of
is
we must admit that the
which have taken place upon the
its
formation, must...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was asked: " What planets, of those known to ordinary science,
besides Mercury, belong to our system of worlds ? " Now if by " System
of Worlds" our terrestrial chain or " string " was intended in the mind of
the querist, instead of the " Solar System of Worlds," as it should have
been, then of course the answer was likely to be misunderstood. For the
reply was: " Mars, etc., and four other planets of which astronomy
knows nothing. Neither A, B, nor YZ are known nor can they be seen
through physical means however perfected." This is plain : (a) Astronomy as yet knows nothing in reality of the planets, neither the ancient
ones, nor those discovered in modern times, (b) No companion planets
from A to Z, i.e., no upper globes of any chain in the Solar System, can
be seen." As to Mars, Mercury, and "the four other planets," they bear a relation to Earth of which no master or high Occultist will ever speak,
much less explain the nature.*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Burgess, Ebenezer (1860) Surya Siddhanta.pdf [view file]
...mathematicians, who
went on by degrees to form also tables of tangents and co-tangents, secants
and co-secants ; while the Hindus do not seem to have distinctly appreci
ated the significance even of the cosine.
ii. 28.]
Translation and Notes.
57
In this passage, the sine is called jydrdha, " half-chord ; " hereafter,
however, that term does not once occur, but ./yd " chord " (literally " bow
string") is itself employed, as are also its synonyms jlvd, m&urvikd, to
denote the sine. The usage of Albategnius is the same. The sines of the
table are called pinda, or jydpinda, "the quantity corresponding to the
sine." The term used for versed sine, utkramajyd, means " inverse-order
sine," the column of versed sines being found by subtracting that of
sines in inverse order from radius.
The ratio of the diameter to the circumference involved in the expres
sion of the value of radius by 3438' is, as remarked above (under i. 59,
60), 1 : 3.14136. The commentator asserts that value to come...
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...radius,
but this advantage is only proportional to the first power
of the radius.
The resistance to it, for a given velocity, is
proportional to the moment of inertia, or about the fifth
power of the
*
radius.*
The moment of
These relations tend very greatly
measured by the mass into the radius
common language, = M /fc*. Among spheres of the same dena =
ir r 3 X t r
and
internal
density\ moment of inertia
sity,
having uniform
That is, resistances to action of horizontal component of attraction
1.6758 r 6
on tidal protuberance are measured by 1.6758 times the fifth power of the rainertia of a sphere is
of gyration, or, in
.4.
.
dius; but they are supposed applied at the extremity of the radius of gyration,
which is equal to .6325?'.
unit of force applied here is equivalent to .5811
A
applied at the extremity of the radius. Hence the moment of inertia of the
sphere, supposed applied at the extremity of the radius, where the retardative
force is applied (very approximately...
(1%) Monographien/Dr. Edmund Halley (1716) Philosophical Transactions.pdf [view file]
...premises, the construction and several properties of the cate
naria are easily deducible, one or two of which I will set down.
l The area atmr is equal to aopr, a rectangle contained by radius ar and
*p the tangent answering to secant hp = tm. For because of the like triangles
CMm cee; cm : ce :: Mm : ee, that is, (putting r, s, t, m, for radius, secant,
taneent and meridional part rm) r : s :: m : t, whence rt = sm, and all the rt
= all the sm, that is, aopr = atmr, which agrees with Dr. Gregory's cor. 5,
°f ^Supposing the former construction, let be added the line rh, including
the hyperbolic sector arh. I say the same sector is equal to half the rectangle
arm* contained by radius ar and the meridional part rm, (= i™)-. For the
sector arh = triangle rnh wanting the semisegment anh. The fluxion ot the
B B 2
188
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS.
[ANNO 1/15.
triangle rnh is-J-.5/+-J-^. Thefluxionof ANHista. So the fluxion of the sector arh
is -ist + -^ts — ts = ±si — -its. It is...
[ 6 more ]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Granting, for the sake of argument, that a triangle can be said to
have a radius in the sense in which we speak of the radius of a circle,—
for what Parker calls the radius of the triangle is the radius of a circle
inscribed in the triangle and therefore not the radius of the triangle at
all,—and granting for the moment the other fanciful and mathematical
propositions united in his premises, why must we conclude that if the
triangle and circle are opposite in all the elements of their construction,
the diameter of any defined circle is in the opposite duplicate ratio of
the diameter of any given equivalent triangle ? What necessary
connection is there between the premises and the conclusion ? The
reasoning is of a kind not known in geometry, and would not be accepted
by strict mathematicians.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...planetary
There is no intermedium between the planets and
the comets in this respect.
"What is that primitive
orbits.
cause
I shall offer a hypothesis in the note at the
?
of this work, which appears to
me
end
to result, with great
probability, from the preceding phenomena ; but I present it with the diffidence which ought to inspire everything which is not the result of observation or of calculation."
Before proceeding to reproduce the substance of the
it proper to follow the author in some of his
note, I think
general considerations, since, as will appear, they are
connected with his hypothesis, although not made to
it.
Some of the phenomena of our
system Newton confessed his inability to refer to the prinSuch were the uniformity in the
ciple of gravitation.
constitute a part of
directions of planetary movements, the nearly circular
forms of the orbits, and their remarkable conformity to
These adjustments Newton, in his general
scholium,* pronounces to be "the work of...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Solar system, which he confessed his inability to explain by the law
of gravitation. " Such were the uniformity in the directions of
planetary movements, the nearly circular forms of the orbits, and their
remarkable conformity to one plane" (Prof. Winchell). And if there is
one single exception, then the law of gravitation has no right to be
referred to as an universal law. " These adjustments," we are told,
" Newton, in his general Scholium, pronounces to be ' the work of an
intelligent and all-powerful Being.' " Intelligent that " Being " may
be; as to "all-powerful" there would be every reason to doubt the
claim. A poor " God " he, who would work upon minor details and
leave the most important to secondary forces ! The poverty of the
argument and logic in this case, is surpassed only by that of Laplace,
who, seeking very correctly to substitute motion for Newton's " all-powerful Being," and ignorant of the true nature of that eternal motion, saw
in it a blind physical law. " Might not those arrangements be an
effect of the laws of motion?" he asks, forgetting, as all our modern
Scientists do, that this law and this motion are a vicious circle, so long
as the nature of both remains unexplained. His famous answer to
Napoleon: " Dieu est devenu une hypothese inutile" would be correctly
stated only by one who adhered to the philosophy of the Vedantins. It
becomes a pure fallacy, if we exclude the interference of operating,
intelligent, powerful (never " all-powerful") Beings, who are called
" gods."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...of a vortical movement within
The conception of attraction and repulsion had come down from the epoch of Empedocles, by
whom they were designated "love" and "hate;" but to
hypothesis which
the solar system.
the time of Kepler, no interaction between masses of mat-
had been distinctly recognized which was generically
from magnetism. When, therefore, Kepler projected a theory employing attraction and repulsion, he
ter
different
attributed these actions to cosmical magnetism.
The sun
was regarded by him as a great magnet revolving on an
*
Ueberweg: History of Philosophy, i, 66.
These views seem to have been quite definitely formulated by Leucippus,
though they are generally attributed to Democritus. See Diogenes Laertius Lives.
i Similar theories were long afterward entertained by Torricelli and Galileo.
t
:
PRE-KANTIAN SPECULATIONS.
554
whose position had been determined by the Divine
The solar substance was immaterial, and sent
forth radially an emanation of the same substance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But we would ask the critics of the mediaeval astronomers why should
Kepler be denounced as most unscientific, for offering just the same
solution as Newton did—only showing himself more sincere, more consistent and even more logical. Where may be the difference between
Newton's " all-powerful Being" and Kepler's Rectores, his sidereal
and Cosmic Forces, or Angels? Kepler is again criticised for his curious hypothesis which made use of a vortical movement within the
solar system ;" for his theories in general, for his favouring Empedocles'
idea of attraction and repulsion, and " Solar magnetism " in particular.
Yet several modern men of Science, as will be shown—Hunt (if Metcalfe
is to be excluded), Dr. Richardson, etc. — favour the idea very seriously.
He is half excused, however, on the plea that " to the time of Kepler no
interaction between masses of matter had been distinctly recognized
which was generically different from magnetism " (World-Life). Is it distinctly recognised now ? Does Prof. Winchell claim for Science any
serious knowledge whatever of the natures of either electricity or
magnetism—except that both seem to be the effects of some result arising from
an undetermined cause.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(50%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...mass (Jacob Ennis: The Origin of (he Stars, 221 seq.). It is, however, a fundamental principle in physics that no rotation could be generated in
such a mass by the action of its own parts. As well attempt to change the
course of a steamer by pulling at the deck-railing. The same author suggests,
however, that the attraction of neighboring nebulae would contribute to the
formation of surface currents; and he even suggests the origination of rotary
movements by nebular impact.
* D. Kirkwood, Amer. Jour. Sci.,
II, xxxix, 68, Jan. 1865.
NEBULAR
100
less exterior.
Now
motions, but as
friction
LIFE.
would tend to equalize these
that this result would not
we may admit
be accomplished instantly at each stage of their progress,
conceive a spiral motion of such particles.
But
we must
there seems to be no probability that the relative number
of such particles would be so great as to impart a con-
spicuous spiral structure to the whole central mass. And
if it should, to what could it...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" It is a fundamental principle in physics that no rotation could be generated in such a mass by the action of its own parts. As well attempt to
change the course of a steamer by pulling at the deck railing," remarks
to this Prof. Winchell in " World-Life."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(22%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...million years can have elapsed
that not
-since the
temperature of the earth was sufficiently reduced
to sustain vegetable life;f and on the duration of tidal
action reaches a similar result. J Helmholtz calculates that
twenty million years would suffice for the original nebula
to condense to the present dimensions of the sun.
Professor
Newcomb
S.
requires only ten million years to
attain a temperature of 212 Fahr.
Croll estimates seventy
million years
for the diffusion of the heat which would
||
be produced by the collision of two such nebulas as would
constitute the primitive nebula postulated by the theory.
But meantime Bischof
calculates that 350 million years
would be required for the earth to cool from a temperature
*
Rev.
t
Thomson and
S.
Parsons, Meth. Quar. Rev., Jan., 1877, pp. 142-3.
Tait: Natural Philosophy, Appendix D, also
832. 833, 834,
Glasgow address) ; Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., xxiii,
847, 848 (but 847-9 cancelled in
pt. I, 157, 1863.
J
Thomson. Trans.
(1%) Monographien/Büchner, Ludwig (1864) Force And Matter.pdf [view file]
...earth required to attain its present form, an approximat-
PERIODS OF THE CREATION OF THE EARTH.
61
ing notion may be formed from the calculations
of geologists in regard to .individuel phases, or
the formation of certain strata. The so-called
coal formation alone required, according to Bis- .
chof, 1,004,177, according to Chevandier's calculation, 672,788 years. The tertiary strata;
about 1000 feet in thickness, required for their
development about 350,000 years; and before
the originally incandescent earth could cool down
from a temperature of 2000 degrees to 200, there
must, according to Bischof's calculation, have
elapsed period of 350 millions of years. Volger
finally calculates, that the time. requisite for the
deposit of the strata known to us must at least
have amounted to 648 millions of years! From
these numbers, we may form some notion as to
the extent of these periods of time. They give
us, moreover, another hint. The enormous distances in the universe, which stagger our...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* And even on these figures Bischof disagrees with Thomson, and calculates that 350
million years would be required for the earth to cool from a temperature of 20,000° to
200° centigrade. This is, also, the opinion of Helmholtz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(55%) Monographien/Laing, Samuel (1885) Modern Science And Modern Thought.pdf [view file]
...tenuity of a comet's mass is also
proved by the phenomenon of the tail, which, as the
comet approaches the sun, is thrown out sometimes
to a length of 90 millions of miles in a few hours.
And what is remarkable, this tail is thrown out against
the force of gravity by some repulsive force, probably
electrical, so that it always points away from the SUD.
•
•
17
SPACE.
Thus a comet which approaches the sun with a tail
behind it, will, after passing its perihelion, recede from
the sun with its tail before it, and this although the
tail may be of the length of 200 millions of miles as in
the comet of 1843. In the course of a few hours, there-·
fore, this enormous tail has been absorbed and a new
one started out in an opposite direction. And yet, thin
as the matter of comets must be, it obeys the common
law of gravity, and whether the comet revolves in an
orbit within that of the outer planets, or shoots off into
the abysses of space and returns only after hundreds of
years, its...
(35%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...the comet of 1770 passed amongst
the satellites of Jupiter without causing the slightest disturbance in their motions. The comet, on the contrary,
was thrown into a totally different orbit. Similarly, the
comet of 1861 actually came into contact with the earth
on the 30th of June of that year, and the human race was
not annihilated.
Indeed, the only indication of the start-
was a peculiar phosphorescence of the atmosphere.
According to the accepted relation between
comets and periodic meteor showers, it may be said the
earth comes in contact with a comet on every occasion
ling event
of such displays.
In connection with the evidences of the extreme tenuity
may be mentioned the parting of Biela's comet
of comets,
while actually under observation, in 1845.
On the 26th of
November, it was a faint nebulous spot, not perfectly
round, and with an increased central density. On the
19th of December it was more elongated; on the 29th, it
had parted. For three months the twin comets were...
(4%) Monographien/Higgins, Godfrey (1836) Anacalypsis - Bd.2.pdf [view file]
...an
orbit.
moon was
was exactly
exactly in
in such
such aa
" an elliptical
elliptical orbit. This,
This, together
together with
with the
the consideratipn
consideration that
that the
the moon
as equally
equally attracted
attracted with
with the
the earth,
earth, when
when the
the comet
comet passed
passed by,
by,
"w place
place of
of its
its orbit
ot·bit at
at that
that time,
time, as
**
be aa convincing
convincing argument
argument that
that aa comet
comet really
really came
came very
very near,
near, and
and passed
passed by
by the
the earth,
earth,
" seems
seems to
to be
**
'( on
on the
the day
day the
the deluge
deluge began."
began." 3a
16.
16. But
But 1l mus
muat dwell
dwell aa little
little longer
longer on
on this
this subject.
subject. Whiston
Whiston undertakes
tmde.rtakes to
to prove,
prove, except
except the
the
comet
That
no
comet of
of 5751
575! years,
years,,"
(l.)
That
no
other
ohhe
kn(YlJJn
comets
could
pass
by
the
ea-rth
at
the
beknotvn
other
comets
of
could
the
the...
[ 5 more ]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" The extreme tenuity of a comet's mass is also proved by the phenomenon of the tail, which, as the comet approaches the sun, is
thrown out sometimes to a length of 90 millions of miles in a few hours.
And what is remarkable, this tail is thrown out against the force
of gravity by some repulsive force, probably electrical, so that it always
points away from the Sun (! ! !) And yet, thin as the matter of comets
must be, IT OBEYS THE COMMON LAW OF GRAVITY (!?),
and whether the comet revolves in an orbit within that of the outer
planets, or shoots off into the abysses of Space, and returns only after
hundreds of years, its path is, at each instant, regulated by the same force
as that which causes an apple to fall to the ground." (Ibid, p. 17.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...NEBULAR
j<
1.
2.
3.
3.
4.
LIFE.
NEBULAR HEAT
1.
2.
II.
81
Heat Produced by Refrigerative Contraction
.
Changes in the Forms of Nebulae
Heat Arising from the Aggregative Process
81
.
-
.
92
.
94
NEBULAR ROTATION
.-...
1.
Causes of Rotation
2.
Causes of Nebular Forms
3.
Influence of Resisting
4.
Nebular Evolution without Rotation
Medium
.
.
The Law
2.
Abandonment
105
3.
Determination of
4.
Non-Annulating Nebulae and
10G
Equal Areas
110
of a
Ring
the Width
of the
Ring
Stratified
.
.
Rings
-
111
118
.
.
.
.119
SPHERATION OF RINGS
119
1.
Disruption of a Ring
2.
Rotation of Resulting Mass
3.
Influence of Cosmic Tides
4.
Ultimate Synchronism of Axial and Orbital Motions
5.
Summary
6.
Arrangement of Heavier Matters on the Derived Sphe-
7.
Orders of Nebuhe
Laws
99
106
1.
of
94
.104
....
.
NEBULAR ANNULATION
of
87
-
-
of Rotation
roid
.
.
121
129
....
.
134
134
137
.
139
CONTENTS.
PART
Xlll
II.
(1%) Monographien/Stallo, John Bernhard (1882) The Concepts And Theories of Modern Physics.pdf [view file]
...orbital motions.
M. Babinet do not
constitute
the only difficulty which besets the nebular hypothesis,
either in its general cosmogenetic or in its special La-
In the progress of astronomical displacean form.
covery it has appeared that several of the supposed
coincidences between the facts and the hypothesis fail.
Thus, there appears to 'be an exception to the directional uniformity of the axial and orbital motions of
the planets and their satellites in the case of Uranus,
the orbital planes of whose
satellites are
nearly perpen-
CONCEPTS OF MODERN PHYSICS.
284:
dicular to the ecliptic, the circumplanetarj motions of
the satellite as well as the axial motion of the planet,
moreover,
retrograde a fact long since discovered
being
William Herschel, and confirmed by various subserious blow which
sequent observations. But the most
by
Sir
has lately been dealt to the nebular hypothesis consists
in the recent discovery (1877), by Professor Asaph Hall,
of two satellites of the...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, for instance, we have found there, concerning gravitation, the axial
and orbital motions, that synchronous movement having been once
overcome, in the early stage—it was enough to originate a rotatory
motion till the end of Manvantara. We have also come to know in all
the aforesaid combinations of possibilities with regard to incipient
rotation—most complicated in every case,—some of the causes to which
it may have been due, as well as some others to which it ought and should
have been due, but, in some way or other, was not. Among other things,
we were informed that incipient rotation may be provoked with equal ease
in a mass in igneous fusion, and in one that is characterised by glacial
opacity (" Heaven and Earth"). That gravitation is a law which nothing
can overcome, but which, nevertheless, is overcome in and out of season
by the most ordinary celestial or terrestrial bodies—the tails of impudent
comets, for instance. That we owe the universe to the holy
creative Trinity, called Inert Matter, Senseless Force and Blind Chance.
Of the real essence and nature of any of these three, Science
knows nothing, but this is a trifling detail. Ergo, we are
told that, when a mass of cosmic or nebular matter—whose
nature is unknown (entirely so), and which may be in a state of
fusion (Laplace), or dark and cold (Thomson), for " this intervention of
heat is itself a pure hypothesis " (Faye)—decides to exhibit its mechanical
energy under the form of rotation, it acts in this wise. It (the mass)
either bursts into spontaneous conflagration, or it remains inert,
tenebrous, and frigid, both states being equally capable of sending it,
without any adequate cause, spinning through space for millions of years.
Its movements may be retrograde and they may be direct, about a
hundred various reasons being offered for both motions, in about as
many hypotheses. Anyhow, joining the maze of stars, whose origin
belongs to the same miraculous and spontaneous order—for "the
nebular theory does not profess to discover the origin of things, but only a stadium
in material history" (Winchell: World-Life)—those millions of suns,
planets, and satellites, composed of inert matter, will whirl on in most
impressive and majestic symmetry around the firmament, moved and guided only, their inertia notwithstanding, " by their own internal
motion."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...gaseous matters from
the region within the solar photosphere.
Father Secchi,
speaking of the connection between the spots and the
"The spot is formed by the matter
protuberances, says
itself which the eruption projects upon the solar disc.
The dark region is due to the absorption exerted by the
vapors issuing from the bosom of the sun and interposed
between the observer and the photosphere."* The theory
less
:
Faye differs in supposing the rupture in the photosphere to result from a vortical disturbance in that layer,
which carries cooler vapors down while Professor Youngof
;
favors a slight modification of Secchi's theory. All these
views make the spots depend on the superficial accumulation of vapors relatively cooler than the photosphere in
whose depressions they
rest.
The diminished luminosity
of the spots is due, therefore, to the high absorptive power
of their substance and this results from a relation of
;
temperature.
An increased
efficiency of the cause or con...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This, Science will not deny, since Astronomy knows of the fixed
cycle of eleven years when the number of solar spots increases,* which
is due to the contraction of the Solar heart. The universe (our world in
this case) breathes, just as man and every living creature, plant, and
even mineral does upon the earth ; and as our globe itself breathes
every twenty-four hours. The dark region is not due " to the absorption
exerted by the vapours issuing from the bosom of the sun and interposed between the observer and the photosphere," as Father Secchi
would have it (" Le Soleil " II., 184), nor are the spots formed " by the
matter (heated gaseous matter) which the irruption projects upon the
solar disc " (ibid). It is similar to the regular and healthy pulsation of
the heart, as the life fluid passes through its hollow muscles. Could
the human heart be made luminous, and the living and throbbing
organ be made visible, so as to have it reflected upon a screen, such as used by the astronomers in their lectures—say for the moon—then
every one would see the Sun-spot phenomenon repeated every second
—due to its contraction and the rushing of the blood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(50%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...found in meteorites, comets, and irresolvable nebulas, as well as in resolvable nebulas, stars and suns.
But one system of matter
pervades the immense spaces of the visible universe; and
it is a dream of physical
philosophy that all the recognized
chemical elements will one day be found but modifications
of a single material element, f When this dream is real1.
* Prof.
Newcomb, Popular Astronomy,
p. 444,
has given views of two such
"clusters."
t It is generally admitted that at excessively high temperatures, matter
exists in a state of dissociation that is, no chemical combination can exist.
Now,
if the eo-called elements are really compounded, a state of dissociation
into ultimate atoms or molecules, all of one kind. The
spectrum of such a substance should be a bright line. If the temperature is
such that two or three different molecular arrangements may exist, the spectrum
should consist of two or three bright lines. The question may reasonably be
raised whether the nebulae...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is said in a work on Geology that it is the dream of Science that "all
the recognized chemical elements will one day be found but modifications
of a single material element.'' (" World-Life" p. 48.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...nebulae which are resolvable give continu-
The "resolvable
nebulas," therefore, do not
constitute a class of proper nebulae.
More than half of
those forms once regarded as nebulae must be set down as
COSMICAL DUST.
48
But at least one-third of all so-called
starry clusters.*
nebulae are real nebulas masses of incandescent vapor.
6.
UNIVERSAL WORLD-STUFF.
Cosmical Dust, The cosmical realm appears, from
the survey which we have taken, to be abundantly stocked
with the crude material of which worlds are formed. The
most familiar substances of our earth are found in meteorites, comets, and irresolvable nebulas, as well as in resolvable nebulas, stars and suns.
But one system of matter
pervades the immense spaces of the visible universe; and
it is a dream of physical
philosophy that all the recognized
chemical elements will one day be found but modifications
of a single material element, f When this dream is real1.
* Prof.
Newcomb, Popular Astronomy,
p. 444,
has given views of...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE QUINTESSENCE OF KOSMOS. nor can they be, the primordial elements. Those were formed from " the
curds of the cold radiant mother" and " the fire-seed of the hot Father" who
" are one" or, to express it in the plainer language of modern science,
those elements had their genesis in the depths of the primordial fire-mist
—the masses of incandescent vapour of the irresolvable nebulae ; for as
Professor Newcomb shows (in his " Popular Astronomy," on pages 444),
resolvable nebulae are not a class of proper nebulae.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...temperatures, matter
exists in a state of dissociation that is, no chemical combination can exist.
Now,
if the eo-called elements are really compounded, a state of dissociation
into ultimate atoms or molecules, all of one kind. The
spectrum of such a substance should be a bright line. If the temperature is
such that two or three different molecular arrangements may exist, the spectrum
should consist of two or three bright lines. The question may reasonably be
raised whether the nebulae which give two or three bright lines are in such a
condition. Dumas, in 1857, based the suggestion of the composite nature of the
" elements" on certain relations of atomic
weights. (See also Oomptes Rendus,
Nov. 3, 1873'.) The conception was maintained in 1866, and subsequently, by
Professor G. Hinrichs (Atomechanik; also Amer. Jour. Set., II, xxx, 19, 56, id.
Ill, i, 319), from a consideration of the physical properties of the atoms; and
further, in 1874, from the relations of atomicity and atomic...
(1%) Zeitschriften/Thomson, William Sir (1867) On Vortex Atoms.pdf [view file]
...spectrum give rise to faint lines, are
on such stars confined within the photosphere
and the lowest
temperature which others of them can withstand is, by reason of the
force with which they are attracted downwards, hotter than the corresponding temperatures of the sun.
Hence the substances which
on the sun cause his numerous dark lines sodium, magnesium, calcium, chromium, manganese, iron
produce, in the spectrum of the
star, lines equally numerous, but faint.
There is but one exception to this.
Hydrogen has a molecular mass so amazingly low (one
twenty-third part of the mass of molecules of sodium, the nearest to
it in this respect of the known constituents of stellar atmospheres),
that there is probably no star which can exert a force of gravity so
powerful as to compel hydrogen to limit itself to temperatures
which show in any part of the spectrum a perceptible degree of
brightness when placed upon the background of the photosphere.
In
all stars accordingly in which hydrogen appears...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* In his "World-Life"—page 48—in the appended foot notes, Professor Winchell
says :—" It is generally admitted that at excessively high temperatures matter exists in
a state of dissociation—that is, no chemical combination can exist ; " and would appeal,
to prove the unity of matter, to the spectrum, which in every case of homogeneity will
show a bright line, whereas in the case of several molecular arrangements existing—in
the nebulae say, or a star—" the spectrum should consist of two or three bright lines ! "
This would be no proof either way to the physicist-Occultist, who maintains that
beyond a certain limit of visible matter, no spectrum, no telescope and no microscope
are of any use. The unity of matter, of that which is real cosmic matter
to the Alchemist, or "Adam's Earth" as the Kabalists call it, can hardly be
proved or disproved, by either the French savant Dumas, who suggests " the
composite nature of the "elements" on certain relations of atomic weights," or
even by Mr. Crookes's "radiant matter," though his experiments may seem
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Ennis, Jacob (1881) The Origin of the Stars, and the Causes of their Motions and their Light.pdf [view file]
...rotation.
same
29. It accounts for the revolutions of the satellites around
the planets, nearly in the
same
plane, in the
same
direction,
and that direction the same as the rotation of the planets,
and nearly in the equatorial planes of the planets.
30. It accounts for the rotations both of the planets and
the satellites
from west
to east.
31. It accounts for the fact that the satellites
make only
one rotation in one revolution.
law of density of the solar systhe inner planets are more dense than
the exterior ones, why the planets are more dense than
their satellites, and why the interiors of the planets are more
32. It accounts for the
tem
;
that
is,
why
dense than their exteriors.
33. It accounts for the elliptic forms of the planetary
those ellipses to
orbits, and for the near approach of
circles.
34. It accounts for the inclination of the earth's axis
of rotation to
and
its orbital
plane, thereby causing the seasons,
same facts in the other planets.
shows...
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...inverse case where the central
mass goes on diminishing. Here we are not concerned
with minute effects, since it is almost the entire mass of
the nebula, up to about YTJJ> which marches thus in space
from orbit to orbit, to gather itself at the centre. To this
is added another cause, which acts
exactly in the same
manner, that is to say, the resistance of the materials
which constantly travel through space, and fall almost
It is
directly toward the sun, and from nearly all sides.
further evident that this double and continual contraction
of the orbits will proceed, without altering in any respect
the direction of the rotation of the planets or the direction
of the circulation of their satellites.'
"As to the distances of the planets from the sun, or of
the satellites from their planets, nothing prevents that
they should be found to-day, beyond the limits assigned
There is no more question, in fact, in causing
to intervene here the play of centrifugal force for producing some at the...
(1%) Monographien/Slaughter, Rev. W.B. (1876) The Modern Genesis.pdf [view file]
...rotation."
considered the possible effects
accelerated velocity in
HAVING
of a supposed
the rotation of the cosmical mass,
come
we now
to the consideration of actual velocities.
Taking a survey of the
solar system,
that rotary motion exists in
we
find
two forms, which
we denominate axial and orbital.
The axial rotation is the rotation of a body
on its own axis. Such a rotation is found in
the sun, in most of the planets, and in their
satellites.
Uranus and Neptune are not
positively
known
to revolve
on their axes, but
the analogies of the system justify the belief
that they do.
Orbital motion
is
the motion which one
body
has while revolving around another body.
The satellites revolve in orbits around the
planets of which they are the satellites.
The
THE MODERN
76
GENESIS.
planets revolve, in orbits, around
carrying their satellites with them.
The
the sun,
asteroids are small planets which
re-
volve also around the sun.
Besides these examples of rotary...
[ 5 more ]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nor do the two last discovered great planets depend entirely on the
Sun like the rest of the planets. Otherwise, how explain the fact that
Neptune receives goo times less light than our Earth, and Uranus 390
times less, and that their satellites show a peculiarity of inverse
rotation found in no other planets of the Solar System. At any rate,
what we say applies to Uranus, though recently the fact begins again
to be disputed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(2%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...gases.
mutual
Spectrum consisting of one, two, three or four bright
perhaps of five or more, revealing the presence of
nitrogen and hydrogen, and sometimes superposed on a
faint continuous spectrum.
Density low and heat less
lines, or
than that of our sun.
Exemplified in certain irresolvable
nebulae.
NOTE.
The thermal incandescence
of the normal nebula remains
to be fully established.
2.
tity,
Nebular Fire Mist.
Mineral mist increased
but a gaseous medium
still
predominant.
in quanCondensa-
and evolution of heat in progress.
Spectrum of
bright lines superposed on a faint continuous spectrum,
tion
showing presence of
fire
mist.
A. Continuous fire mist. The nebular mass remains homogeneous and its luminous constituents mostly gaseous. Certain
Also a small number of
irresolvable nebulae, as H. 4,374.
stars, as Gamma of Cassiopoaia and Beta of the Lyre.
Annulations perhaps begin in this phase. The primitive
may thus be resolved into solar nebulae in which other...
(1%) Monographien/Draper, John William (1875) History of the Conflict between Religion and Science.pdf [view file]
...gases is discontinuous. Here, then, is the means of determining whether
the light emitted by a given nebula comes from an incandescent gas, or from a congeries of ignited solids,
stars, or SUDS. If its spectrum be discontinuous, it is a
true nebula or gas; if continuous, a congeries of stars.
In 1864, Mr. Huggins made this examination in the
case of a nebula in the constellation Draco. It proved
to be gaseous.
Subsequent observations have shown that, of sixty
nebulee examined, nineteen give discontinuous or gaseous spectra-the remainder continuous ones.
It may, therefore, be admitted that physical evidence
has at length been obtained, demonstrating the existence of vast masses of matter in a gaseous condition,
and at a temperature of incandescence. The hypothesis
of Laplace has thus a firm basis. In such a nebular
n
242
NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS.
mass, cooling by radiation is a necessary incident, and
condensation and rotation the inevitable results. There
must be a separation of rings...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The nebulae exist ; yet the nebular theory is wrong. A nebula exists
in a state of entire elemental dissociation. It is gaseous and—something else besides, which can hardly be connected with gases, as known
to physical science; and it is self-luminous. But that is all. The
sixty-two "coincidences" enumerated by Professor Stephen Alexander,* confirming the nebular theory, may all be explained by
esoteric science ; though, as this is not an astronomical work, the
refutations are not attempted at present. Laplace and Faye come
nearer to the correct theory than any; but of the speculations of
Laplace there remains little in the present theory except its
general features. Nevertheless, "there is in Laplace's theory," says
John Stuart Mill, "nothing hypothetical; it is an example of legitimate
reasoning from present effect to its past cause ; it assumes nothing more
than that objects which really exist, obey the laws which are known to
be obeyed by all terrestrial objects resembling them." (System of
Logic, p. 229).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...velocity of
the molecules which constitute the interior border of the
ring."
3.
Rupture and Planetation of Rings.
Proceeding
to the subsequent history of a ring, the author shows that
the conditions of its permanence can very rarely exist.
"Almost always each ring of vapors must have broken up
into numerous masses, which, moving with a nearly uniform velocity, must have continued to circulate at the
same distance around the sun. These masses must have
taken a spheroidal form, with a motion of rotation in the
same direction as their revolution, since the inner molecules [those nearest the sun] would hare less actual
velocity than the exterior ones.
They must then have
formed as many planets in a state of vapor. But if one
of them was sufficiently powerful to unite successively, by
its attraction, all the others around its centre, the ring of
vapors must have been thus transformed into a single
spheroidal mass of vapors circulating around the sun
with a rotation in the same direction...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Almost always each ring of vapours must have broken up into numerous
masses, which, moving with a nearly uniform velocity, must have continued to
circulate at the same distance around the Sun. These masses must have taken
a spheroidal form with a motion of rotation in the same direction as their
revolution, since the inner molecules (those nearer to the Sun) would have less
actual velocity than the exterior ones. They must then have formed as many
planets in a state of vapour. But, if one of them was sufficiently powerful to
unite successively, by its attraction, all the others around its centre, the ring of
vapours must have been thus transformed into a single spheroidal mass of
vapours circulating around the Sun with a rotation in the same direction as its
revolution. The latter case has been the more common, but the solar system
presents us the first case, in the four small planets which move between Jupiter
and Mars."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...an oblate
spheroid, with oblateness increasing in proportion as the
velocity of rotation is increased.
What must
end in?
this process
Evidently, the ob-
lateness will finally reach such an extent that the equa*
Letting v and v' represent the actual velocities of a particle, m, in the two
and after a certain amount of contraction, and r and r' the
situations, before
two corresponding values of the radius
situations will be
^-
and
as the centripetal force, that
-^. But
vector, the centrifugal force in the
inversely as the square of the radius vector,
is,
have
?L?
!
r
From which
But
r
..
.
,
r,
r'
t'
> r
a
7
,
'
:
.. ?'"
two
as the centrifugal force varies directly
::
>
r'
?'
a
:
r,
or r'
>
v.
we
NEBULAR AXNULATIOH.
Ill
have a centrifugal tendency equal to
the centripetal. Then, if any further contraction of the
spheroid takes place, the equatorial particles will not foltorial particles will
low, but will be left suspended in equilibrium...
(1%) Monographien/Unbekannt (1885) Five Years of Theosophy.pdf [view file]
...the centrifugal velocity
of the earth's equatorial surface and only about onefourth part of the gravitation of the equatorial
matter, has not manifested any tendency to bulge
out at the sola:r equator, nor shown the least
flattening at the poles of the solar axis. In other
and clearer words, the sun, with only one-fourth
of our earth's density for the centrifugal force to
work upon, has no polar compression at all ! We
find this objection made by more than one astronomer, yet never explained away satisfactorily so
far as the " Adepts" are aware.
Therefore do they say that the great men of
science of the West, knowing nothing or next to
nothing either about cometary matter, centrifugal
and centripetal forces, the nature of the nebulre,
or the physical constitution of the sun, stars, or
even the moon, are imprudent to speak so confidently as they do about the ",central mass of the sun''
whirling out into space planets, comets, and what- not. Our humble opinion being wanted, we maintain...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNANSWERABLE QUERIES. hypothesis," it is impossible not to recognise the insurmountable difficulties with which it is attended. Why, for instance, do we find that
the satellites of Neptune and Uranus display a retrograde motion ; that,
in spite of its closer proximity to the Sun, Venus is less dense than the
Earth ? Similarly, the more distant Uranus is more dense than Saturn ?
How is it that so many variations in the inclination of their axes and
orbits are present in the supposed progeny of the central orb; that such
startling variations in the size of the planets is noticeable; that the
Satellites of Jupiter are more dense by 288 than their primary; that the
phenomena of meteoric and cometic systems still remain unaccounted
for ? To quote the words of a Master : " They (the Occultists) find that
the centrifugal theory of Western birth is unable to cover all the
ground. That, unaided, it can neither account for every oblate
spheroid, nor explain away such evident difficulties as are presented by
the relative density of some planets. How, indeed, can any calculation
of centrifugal force explain to us, for instance, why Mercury, whose
rotation is, we are told, only about one-third that of the Earth, and its
density only about one-fourth greater than the Earth, should have a
polar compression more than ten times as great as the latter ? And again,
why Jupiter, whose equatorial rotation is said to be ' twenty-seven
times greater, and its density only about one-fifth that of the earth '
should have its polar compression seventeen times greater than that of
the earth ? Or why Saturn, with an equatorial velocity fifty-five times
greater than Mercury for centripetal force to contend with, should have
its polar compression only three times greater than Mercury's ? To crown
the above contradictions, we are asked to believe in the Central Forces,
as taught by Modern Science, even when told that the equatorial
matter of the Sun, with more than four times the centrifugal velocity of the
Earth's equatorial surface, and only about one-fourth part of the gravitation of the equatorial matter, has not manifested any tendency to bulge
at the Solar equator, nor shown the least flattening of the poles of the
Solar axis. In other and clearer words, the Sun, with only one fourth
of our Earth's density for the centrifugal force to work upon, has no
polar compression at all ! We find this objection made by more than
one astronomer, yet never explained away satisfactorily so far as the
' Adepts ' are aware."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(22%) Monographien/Unbekannt (1885) Five Years of Theosophy.pdf [view file]
...the centrifugal velocity
of the earth's equatorial surface and only about onefourth part of the gravitation of the equatorial
matter, has not manifested any tendency to bulge
out at the sola:r equator, nor shown the least
flattening at the poles of the solar axis. In other
and clearer words, the sun, with only one-fourth
of our earth's density for the centrifugal force to
work upon, has no polar compression at all ! We
find this objection made by more than one astronomer, yet never explained away satisfactorily so
far as the " Adepts" are aware.
Therefore do they say that the great men of
science of the West, knowing nothing or next to
nothing either about cometary matter, centrifugal
and centripetal forces, the nature of the nebulre,
or the physical constitution of the sun, stars, or
even the moon, are imprudent to speak so confidently as they do about the ",central mass of the sun''
whirling out into space planets, comets, and what- not. Our humble opinion being wanted, we maintain...
(7%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...centrifugal influence.
Is it too much, then, to anticipate that planets which we
may expect to discover beyond Saturn will possess a still
higher eccentricity, and thus exhibit a graduation toward
the class of cometary bodies? If this is likely, then not
alone will there be revealed a transition toward comets in
an increasing eccentricity of orbit, and thus a proof that
the cause which imparted to both their orbital motions
became, with increase of distance, feebler and less able to
maintain the equilibrium of centripetal and centrifugal
motions, but also less able to restrict the remoter bodies
*SSnuntlichc Werke,
243.
PLAXETOGENY.
577
common ecliptic plane which the comets have been
permitted so singularly to abandon.
may, therefore,
expect the discovery of planets beyond Saturn, whose
to the
We
gap which now exists between planets and comets, and which will be visible only
eccentricity will diminish the
in perihelion, a circumstance
dimensions and feebler
The
discovery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Therefore, do they (the Adepts) say, that the great men of science of the West, knowing ... next to nothing either about cometary matter, centrifugal and centripetal forces, the nature of the nebulae, or
the physical constitution of the Sun, the Stars, or even the Moon, are
imprudent to speak as confidently as they do about the ' central mass of
the Sun ' whirling out into space planets, comets, and what not . . . ."
" We maintain that it (the Sun) evolves out only the life-principle, the
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(2%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...nebulae were
thus resolvable, other thousands resisted the higher powers of his instrument,
which
to six thousand diameters.
is
said to have magnified up
irresolvable nebulae Sir
The
William Herschel conceived to be crude world-stuff, out of
which suns and planets were destined to be made. This
idea, so consonant with the previous suggestion of Kant,
was taken up by Laplace, and put into the shape of a
physical theory, which became known as the "nebular
*
hypothesis."
With the introduction of the gigantic reflecting telescope of Lord Rosse, fifty-two feet in length, many of the
nebulae were resolved which Sir William Herschel had reand many hitherto unseen nebulas
garded irresolvable
were brought within the range of vision.
It appeared,
;
therefore, that the outer limits of the material creation
had not been reached, and the suspicion was aroused that
nebulas might be resolved if we could apply unlimited
all
telescopic power.
lar hypothesis,
As
This idea was antagonistic...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The " world stuff," now nebulae, was known from the highest antiquity. Anaxagoras taught that, having differentiated, the subsequent
commixture of heterogeneous substances remained motionless and
unorganized, until finally " the Mind "—the collective body of Dhyan
Chohans, we say—began to work upon and communicated to it motion
and order (Aristotle's " Physica," viii, 1.) The theory is now taken up in
its first portion, that of any " Mind "interfering with it being rejected.
Spectrum analysis reveals the existence of nebulas formed entirely
of gases and luminous vapours. Is this the primitive nebular
matter ? The spectra reveal, it is said, the physical conditions of the matter which emits cosmic light. The spectra
of the resolvable and the irresolvable nebulae are shown to be
entirely different, the spectra of the latter showing their physical state to
be that of glowing gas or vapour. The bright lines of one nebula reveal
the existence of hydrogen in it, and of other material substances known
and unknown. The same in the atmospheres of the Sun and stars.
This leads to the direct inference that a star is formed by the condensation of a nebula ; hence that even the metals themselves on earth are formed owing to the condensation of hydrogen or some other primitive matter, some ancestral cousin to " helium," perhaps, or some yet
unknown stuff? This does not clash with the occult teachings. And this is
the problem that chemistry is trying to solve ; and it must succeed sooner
or later in the task, accepting nolens volens, when it does, the esoteric
teaching. But when this does happen, it will kill the nebular theory as
it now stands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...A.
Nebula un-
dergoing segregation and accumulation around local nuclei
without annulation. Also, entire nebulae slowly condensing
around single
nuclei.
Certain resolvable nebula? (compare
nebula in Draco).
3.
Nucleating Phase.
Distinct central condensation.
THE FLNAL GENERALIZATION.
541
Photospheric matter increased, but the gaseous medium
predominant. Bright lines over a continuous spectrum.
Sun systems and planetary segregations past the stage
of
Planetary nebulae, especially H. 838, H. 464,
H. 2,098 and H. 2,241.* Also Nebulous Stars, as H. 450.
Condensation more advanced.
4. Nucleated Phase.
Temperature and luminosity of the fire mist so increased
annulation.
that the absorbent
power of the gaseous atmosphere
is
precisely neutralized and the spectrum is continuous.
Point of transition from bright-line spectra to dark-line
Phase observed probably,
and most resolvable nubulce.
spectra.
in certain star clusters,
XOTE.
The continuous spectrum may, in some cases...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile Astronomy cannot accept in any way, if it is to be regarded
as an exact science, the present theory of the filiation of stars—even if
occultism does so in its own way, as it explains this filiation differently
—because astronomy has not one single physical datum to show for it.
Astronomy could anticipate Chemistry in proving the existence of the
fact, if it could show a planetary nebula exhibiting a spectrum of three
or four bright lines, gradually condensing and transforming into a star,
with a spectrum all covered with a number of dark lines. But " the
question of the variability of the nebula, even as to their form, is yet one
of the mysteries of Astronomy. The data of observation possessed so
far are of too recent an origin, too uncertain to permit us to affirm anything."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...nebular line are wanting, and he even suspects
their presence, as also others beyond the fifth nebular line.
Mr.
Huggins further
that
says,
outside
of
the usual
stronger continuous spectrum, which he attributes to stellar light, he suspects an exceedingly faint trace of a con-
tinuous spectrum. Dr. Draper's photographs show also a
continuous spectrum from two condensed portions just
* Proc,
Roy, Soc., March
16, 18S3,
t Phil. Trans., 1880, p. 677,
Xature, xxv, 489.
FIXED STARS AND NEBULA.
532
These observations show the
preceding the trapezium.
nebular spectrum to be less simple than had been supposed,
and demonstrate, apparently, the presence at least of
Frankland and Lockyer have
hydrogen and nitrogen.
shown that the spectrum indicates a lower temperature
than exists in our sun, and a remarkably low density.
The presence of bright lines indicates that an important
portion of the nebula is gaseous, while the faint continuous spectrum, when present, seems to indicate...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since the discovery of the spectroscope, its magic power has revealed
to its adepts only one single transformation of a star of this kind ; and
even that one showed directly the reverse of what is needed as proof in
favour of the nebular theory; namely—a star transforming itself into a
planetary nebula. As told in The Observatory (Vol. I., p. 185), the
temporary star which appeared in the constellation Cygnus, in November,
1876, discovered by J. F. J. Schmidt, exhibited a spectrum broken by
very brilliant lines. Gradually, the continuous spectrum and most of
the lines disappeared, leaving finally one single brilliant line, which
appeared to coincide with the green line of the nebula.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(3%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...nebular mass remains homogeneous and its luminous constituents mostly gaseous. Certain
Also a small number of
irresolvable nebulae, as H. 4,374.
stars, as Gamma of Cassiopoaia and Beta of the Lyre.
Annulations perhaps begin in this phase. The primitive
may thus be resolved into solar nebulae in which other
annulations succeed; or if the mass is insufficient, it may
proceed with only the evolutions of a solar nebula. Annular,
nebula
and probably spiral and falcate nebulae belong
latter
illustrating a disturbed
state
here, the
of anntilation.
two
Satur-
nian rings persisting like a preserved embryo, exemplifying
form but not the stage.
the
B. Discontinuous fire mist.
Phase parallel with A.
Nebula un-
dergoing segregation and accumulation around local nuclei
without annulation. Also, entire nebulae slowly condensing
around single
nuclei.
Certain resolvable nebula? (compare
nebula in Draco).
3.
Nucleating Phase.
Distinct central condensation.
THE FLNAL GENERALIZATION.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" At the utmost," observes C. Wolf,* " could the nebular hypothesis show in
its favour, with W. Herschell, the existence of planetary nebulae in various degrees
of condensation, and of spiral nebulae, with nuclei of condensation on the
branches and centre.+ But, in fact, the knowledge of the bond that unites
the nebulae to the stars is yet denied to us; and lacking as we do direct
observation, we are even debarred from establishing it even on the analogy of
chemical composition."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(41%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...incandescent liquid or solid particles floating in a luminous, gas1.
eous medium, or of stony particles and masses whose
collisions develop heat and incandescent gases.
mutual
Spectrum consisting of one, two, three or four bright
perhaps of five or more, revealing the presence of
nitrogen and hydrogen, and sometimes superposed on a
faint continuous spectrum.
Density low and heat less
lines, or
than that of our sun.
Exemplified in certain irresolvable
nebulae.
NOTE.
The thermal incandescence
of the normal nebula remains
to be fully established.
2.
tity,
Nebular Fire Mist.
Mineral mist increased
but a gaseous medium
still
predominant.
in quanCondensa-
and evolution of heat in progress.
Spectrum of
bright lines superposed on a faint continuous spectrum,
tion
showing presence of
fire
mist.
A. Continuous fire mist. The nebular mass remains homogeneous and its luminous constituents mostly gaseous. Certain
Also a small number of
irresolvable nebulae, as H. 4,374.
stars...
(1%) Monographien/Grove, W. R. (1874) The Correlation of Physical Forces.pdf [view file]
...nebulae.
But the most remarkable achievement by spectrum analysis is the record of observations on a temporary star which
nitrogen, which line
has shone forth this year in the constellation of the Northern
Crown, about a degree S.E. of the star e. When it was first
seen,
May
12, it
was nearly equal
second magnitude
May
Miller,
16, it
;
in brilliancy to
a star of the
when observed by Mr. Huggins and
was reduced
to the third or fourth
Dr.
magni-
Examined by
these observers with the spectroscope, it
a
which
gave
spectrum
they state was unlike that of any
tude.
body they had examined.
light was compound, and had emanated from two difsources.
One spectrum was analogous to that of the
celestial
The
ferent
formed by the light of an incandescent solid or liquid
photosphere which had suffered absorption by the vapours of
an envelope cooler than itself. The second spectrum consisted
of a few bright lines, which indicated that the light by which
it was formed was emitted by...
(1%) Monographien/Draper, John William (1875) History of the Conflict between Religion and Science.pdf [view file]
...spectrum
of an ignited solid is eontinnous-i-that is, has neither
dark nor bright lines. Fraunhofer had previously made
known that the spectrum of ignited gases is discontinuous. Here, then, is the means of determining whether
the light emitted by a given nebula comes from an incandescent gas, or from a congeries of ignited solids,
stars, or SUDS. If its spectrum be discontinuous, it is a
true nebula or gas; if continuous, a congeries of stars.
In 1864, Mr. Huggins made this examination in the
case of a nebula in the constellation Draco. It proved
to be gaseous.
Subsequent observations have shown that, of sixty
nebulee examined, nineteen give discontinuous or gaseous spectra-the remainder continuous ones.
It may, therefore, be admitted that physical evidence
has at length been obtained, demonstrating the existence of vast masses of matter in a gaseous condition,
and at a temperature of incandescence. The hypothesis
of Laplace has thus a firm basis. In such a nebular
n
242
NEBULAR...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Some of these," Wolf tells us, " have a spectrum of three or four
bright lines, others a continuous spectrum. The first are gaseous,
the others formed of a pulverulent matter. The former must constitute
a veritable atmosphere: it is among these that the solar nebula of Laplace
has to be placed. The latter form an ensemble of particles that may be
considered as independent, and the rotation of which obeys the laws of the nebular theory a romance. internal weight: such are the nebulae adopted by Kant and Faye.
Observation allows us to place the one as the other at the very origin of
the planetary world. But when we try to go beyond and ascend to the
primitive chaos which has produced the totality of the heavenly bodies,
we have first to account for the actual existence of these two classes of
nebulae. If the primitive chaos were a cold luminous gas* one could
understand how the contraction resulting from attraction could have
heated it and made it luminous. We have to explain the condensation
of this gas to the state of incandescent particles, the presence of which
is revealed to us in certain nebulae by the spectroscope. If the original
chaos was composed of such particles, how did certain of their portions
pass into the gaseous state, while others have preserved their primitive
condition ?...."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(100%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...SOLAR SYSTEM.
196
WHAT THE NEBULAR THEORY DOES NOT IMPLY
7.
It is
probably within the truth to say that much oppobeen aroused by a mistaken inter-
sition to the theory has
pretation of
concisely
its
consequences.
I desire, therefore, to state
what the truth of the nebular theory does not
imply.
It
1.
is
not a theory of the evolution of the Universe.
primarily a genetic explanation of the phenomena
of the solar system; and accessorily a coordination in a
It is
common
stellar
conception, of the principal
and nebular firmament,
phenomena
as far as
human
in
the
vision has
been able to penetrate.
2. It does not regard the Comets as involved in that
particular evolution which has produced the Solar System;
but it recognizes the comets as forms of cosmic existence coordinated with earlier stages of nebular evolution.
deny an antecedent history of the lumimakes no claim to having reached an
The fire-mist may have previously
absolute beginning.
existed in a cold, non...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(I.) It " is not a theory of the evolution of the Universe . . . but only
and primarily a genetic explanation of the phenomena of the solar
system, and accessorily a co-ordination of the principal phenomena in
the stellar and nebular firmament, as far as human vision has been able to
penetrate."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(4%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...evolution which has produced the Solar System;
but it recognizes the comets as forms of cosmic existence coordinated with earlier stages of nebular evolution.
deny an antecedent history of the lumimakes no claim to having reached an
The fire-mist may have previously
absolute beginning.
existed in a cold, non-luminous and invisible condition.
It may have emerged from the substance of the ethereal
medium, or may have no consubstantial relation with it.
The fire-mist and other nebulae may consist of matter in a
3.
It does not
nous fire-mist.
It
state of molecular division, or in aggregates of any mass.
Other nebulae may be intensely heated and in a state of
chemical dissociation, or their luminous phenomena may
from a condition of things unknown to terrestrial
We only affirm that the primitive nebula from
which our system was evolved possessed at a certain stage
the physical properties of an intensely heated and highly
arise
science.
tenuous vapor.
4. It does not profess
to...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(III.) " That it does not deny an antecedent history of the luminous fire mist "
—(the secondary stage of evolution in the Secret Doctrine) . . . . " and
makes no claim to having reached an absolute beginning." And even it allows that this " fire mist may have previously existed in a cold, non-luminous and invisible condition " . . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(5%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...things unknown to terrestrial
We only affirm that the primitive nebula from
which our system was evolved possessed at a certain stage
the physical properties of an intensely heated and highly
arise
science.
tenuous vapor.
4. It does not profess
to discover the ORIGIN" of things,
stadium in material history, Its starting
It makes no affirmapoint postulates matter and energy.
but only a
WHAT THE NEBULAR THEORY
DOES NOT IMPLY. 197
tion concerning the origin of these. It leaves the philosopher and the theologian as free as they ever were to seek
the origin of the modes of being.* It glimpses matter in
a certain phase of existence, having active forces within,
impelling
it
along an intelligible and methodical career of
It stands on the regularity of nature and
development.
writes a history revealed to the understanding.
and force are recognized as existing
realities;
ence to their subjective nature the theory
their origin.
5. It does not
is
Matter
but in referas silent...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(IV.) " And that finally: it does not profess to discover the origin of
things, but only a stadium in material history " . . . . leaving " the
philosopher and theologian as free as they ever were to seek for the
origin of the modes of being."*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(2%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...problem of existence is not resolved. * * *
throws no light upon the origin of diffused matter.
hypothesisimpliesaFirstCau.se
view, Ixx, 127, July, 1858.)
*
*
*
"
The nebular hypothe* * * The nebular
(H. Spencer, Westminster Re-
.
198
ORIGIN" OF
THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
In the light of these statements, I desire to reproduce
the opening paragraph of a review penned by a theologian
whose profession, and whose creditable acquaintance with
science should equally have restrained him from committing himself to a sentiment so divergent from the facts
and so disparaging to the interests of religion. I leave the
paragraph as food for reflection. It is as follows:
"Since the speculations of the evolutionists have been
advanced with such boldness and plausibility, the nebular
hypothesis has assumed an importance which it did not
It is, in
possess in the time of Herschel and Laplace.
fact, the first link in the development theory by which it is
attempted to bind together
all
nature in a...
(1%) Monographien/Slaughter, Rev. W.B. (1876) The Modern Genesis.pdf [view file]
...Nebular Hypothesis.
21
Notwithstanding the authority of Laplace
were slow to
as a mathematician, astronomers
receive this Nebular Hypothesis.
had been resolved.
Might not
Many nebulce
all
be similarly
constituted, though our instruments were con-
fessedly too feeble to resolve them'*
After all, may not the nebulce exist only in
appearance ? May it not be the blended light
of innumerable stars, situated so nearly in the
same
line of vision that
no telescope can ever
separate them, and so distant that their light
forms but a haze in the open space?
We live in more favored times. Great and
wonderful as are the results of telescopic observation, the results of Spectrum Analysis are
yet
more wonderful.
By
the spectroscope, light itself
is
translated
into a language of revelation, and, as Schellen
" we are indebted to it for
says,
being able to
say with certainty that luminous nebula actually exist as isolated bodies in space, and that
these bodies are luminous masses...
(1%) Monographien/Draper, John William (1875) History of the Conflict between Religion and Science.pdf [view file]
...nebular hypothesis rests primarily on the telescopic discovery made by Herschel I., that there are
scattered here and there in the heavens pale, gleaming
patches of light, a few of which are large enough to be
visible to the naked eye. Of these, many may be resolved by a sufficient telescopic power into a congeries
of stars, but some, such as the great nebula in Orion,
have resisted the best instruments hitherto made.
It was asserted by those who were indisposed to accept the nebular hypothesis, that the non-resolution was
NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS.
241
due to imperfection in the telescopes used. In these
instruments two distinct functions may be observed:
their light-gathering power depends on the diameter of
their object mirror or lens, their defining power depends
on the exquisite eorreetness of their optical surfaces.
Grand instruments may possess the former quality in
perfection by reason of their size, but the latter very
imperfectly, either through want of original configuration...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But this is not all. Even the greatest philosopher of England—Mr.
Herbert Spencer—arrayed himself against the fantastic theory by saying
that (a) " The problem of existence is not resolved " by it; (b) the nebular
hypothesis " throws no light upon the origin of diffused matter," and
(c) that " the nebular hypothesis (as it now stands) implies a First
Cause."+
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(22%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...not psychic natures be enshrined in inThese substances are no
and platinum?
further from the nature of intelligence than carbon, hydroBut, not to carry the thought to
gen,, oxygen and lime.
such an extreme, might not high intelligence be embodied
in frames as indifferent to external conditions as the sage
of the western plains or the lichens of Labrador
the
rotifers which remain dried for years or the bacteria which
Again, there is no
pass living through boiling water.
reason why a given amount of light should accompany
Many animals, not among the
intelligent organization.
least intelligent, find the night their appropriate period of
Some exist and thrive in rayless caverns and
activity.
ocean depths. On a planet dimly lighted, like Neptune,
men might be organized with pupils as large as silver dolVision might be as
lars, or even as large as dinner plates.
As to warmth, a
distinct on Neptune as on the earth.
blanket of vapors may keep it in and accumulate it to the
And in that...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And yet these lives surrounded us then as they do now. They have
worked on, obedient to their own laws, and it is only as they were
gradually revealed by Science that we have begun to take cognisance of
them, as of the effects produced by them. biped is something not depending on the necessities of organization, or instinct, or
intelligence. That an animal should possess just five senses is not a necessity of percipient existence. There may be animals on the earth with neither smell nor taste.
There may be beings on other worlds, and even on this, who possess more numerous
senses than we. The possibility of this is apparent when we consider the high probability that other properties and other modes of existence lie among the resources of the Kosmos, and even of terrestrial matter. There are animals which subsist where
rational man would perish—in the soil, in the river, and the sea "... (and why not human
beings of different organizations, in such case?) . . . " Nor is incorporated rational
existence conditioned on warm blood, nor on any temperature which does not change
the forms of matter of which the organism may be composed. There may be intelligences
corporealized after some concept not involving the processes of injection, assimilation,
and reproduction. Such bodies would not require daily food and warmth. They
might be lost in the abysses of the ocean, or laid up on a stormy cliff through the tempests of an Arctic winter, or plunged in a volcano for a hundred years, and yet retain
consciousness and thought. It is conceivable. Why might not psychic natures be
enshrined in indestructible flint and platinum ? These substances are no further from
the nature of intelligence than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and lime. But, not to carry
the thought to such an extreme (?), might not high intelligences be embodied in frames
as indifferent to external conditions as the sage of the western plains, or the lichens of
Labrador, the rotifers that remain dried for years, or the spores of bacteria which pass
living through boiling water. . . . These suggestions are made simply to remind the reader how little can be argued respecting the necessary conditions of intelligent, organized existence, from the standard of corporeal existence found upon the earth. Intelligence is, from its nature, as universal and as uniform as the laws of the Universe. Bodies are merely the local fitting of intelligence to particular modifications of universal matter or Force." (World-Life, or Comparative Geology, pp. 496-498 et seq.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...aeons of material history of which
human experience can never testify. Events germinate
and unfold. They have a past which is connected with
their present, and we feel a well justified confidence that
a future is appointed which will be similarly connected
with the present and the past. This continuity and unity
relation of
coexistent
seizes hold of;
of history repeat themselves before our eyes in all conThe phenomena furnish us
ceivable stages of progress.
the grounds for the generalization of two laws which are
truly principles of scientific divination, by which alone
the human mind penetrates the sealed records of the past
and the unopened pages of the future. The first of these
the law of evolution, or, to phrase it for our purpose,
the laic of correlated successiveness or organized history
in the individual, illustrated in the changing phases of
is
every single maturing svstem of results; as organic structure, human civilization or world-growth. The second is the
law of...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This idea is beautifully expressed in a very clever scientific work :—
" The possibility of rising to a comprehension of a system of co-ordination
so far outreaching in time and space all reach of human observations, is a
circumstance which signalizes the power of man to transcend the limitations
of changing and inconsistent matter, and assert his superiority over all unstable
and perishable forms of being. There, is a method in the succession of events, and
in the relation of co-existent things, which the mind of man seizes hold of; and
by means of this as a clue, he runs back or forward over aeons of material
history of which human experience can never testify. Events germinate and
unfold. They have a past which is connected with their present, and we feel
a well-justified confidence that a future is appointed which will be similarly
connected with the present and the past. This continuity and unity of history
repeat themselves before our eyes in all conceivable stages of progress. The
phenomena furnish us the grounds for the generalization of two laws which
are truly principles of scientific divination, by which alone the human mind penetrates the sealed records of the past and the unopened pages of the future.
The first of these is the law of evolution, or, to phrase it for our purpose, the
Jaw of correlated successiveness or organized history in the individual, illustrated in
the changing phrases of every single maturing system of results. . . . These
thoughts summon into our immediate presence the measureless past and the
measureless future of material history. They seem almost to open vistas
through infinity, and to endow the human intellect with an existence and a
vision exempt from the limitations of time and space and finite causation, and
lift it up toward a sublime apprehension of the Supreme Intelligence whose
dwelling place is Eternity." (" World-Life," p. 535 and 548.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(28%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...aphelion
orbits
The source
of this ring is 1,732 million miles beyond the orbit of NepThe plane of the ring, or more properly, ellipse, is
tune, f
inclined at an angle of 64 3' to the plane of the earth's
and its orbital motion is contrary to that of the
earth.
The November shower occurs once in thirty-three
orbit,
years; and hence, though the meteoric orbit must intersect
that of the earth, so that the earth passes it annually, the
meteors do not stretch in a continuous ring around their
From the fact that the meteoric belt is intercepted
orbit.
by the earth only once in thirty-three years, it was shown
by Professor Newton that in 33 years the swarm must
make one revolution, or 32^, 34^, 65-| or 67^ revolutions;
and that, to test which of these is the correct number, we
must investigate the possible influence of the several
The investiplanets upon the movements of the swarm.
gation was made by Schiaparelli of Milan, and about the
same time, by Professor Adams of England; and it...
(1%) Monographien/Ennis, Jacob (1881) The Origin of the Stars, and the Causes of their Motions and their Light.pdf [view file]
...plane of its orbit, then at that period the plane
of
its
orbit
;
equator would have coincided with the plane of its
but with a very slight motion of the axis in the
lapse of millions of years, there would have been an angle
of a few degrees between the two planes. Then came the
period for giving off the ring of the moon, and hence the
plane of the orbit of the moon is now at an angle of five
degrees from the plane of the earth's orbit. The position
of the orbit of the moon therefore may mark the former
position of the plane of the earth's equator.
The
inclina-
282
INCLINATIONS OF OEBITS.
tion of the earth's axis has
its
equator
is
been going on, and the plane of
now removed more
than twenty-three de-
grees from that of its orbit. The movement of the plane of
the moon's orbit has probably been arrested by perturbing
influences.
In accordance with
2.
this view,
we
behold that the
which are nearer the sun, and consequently the
planets
last
produced, are also...
(1%) Monographien/Dr. Edmund Halley (1716) Philosophical Transactions.pdf [view file]
...an angle of 30 degrees, draw sp, and take ce equal to it, also take gh =
ge: then if so be made = ph, the point o will be the place of greatest change
of the angular motion of the planet, revolving in the elliptical orbit abop: for
in that place of the orbit, the second differences of the equations of the centre
of the planet will be found the greatest: and so = -g-Ac — V^Lac2 + 4-sa2.
But when the orbit is parabolical, as in the comets, take so to sp as 8 to 7,
then the angle osp will be 4 1° 14%, or its sine is to radius as ± \Z"J to 1 .
Lastly, the direction of the tangent of the orbit will change with the least
velocity in the point b, if sr be taken = -§-AB. If the excentricity sc be less
than i-PC, this minimum does not take place, but this velocity with which the
tangent revolves is always decreasing, as far as to the aphelion ; as it is in the
motions of all the planets. Neither does it obtain in a parabolic orbit, because
of its axis being produced in infinitum.
All these...
[ 1 more ]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE ALIASES OF FOHAT. a system moving in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. The aphelion of
this ring is 1,732 millions of miles beyond the orbit of Neptune, its
plane is inclined to the Earth's orbit at an angle of 64° 3', and the
direction of the meteoric swarm moving round this orbit is contrary to
that of the Earth's revolution.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(4%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...its swing in a period comparatively long.
it as a viscid body, calculation shows that its gravita-
ing
tional
oscillation
minutes.*
would be completed
Now, suppose the
tidal
in
about ninety
movement
to coincide
with the oscillation period; the rise and fall of the tide
must tend to establish oscillations in the earth-mass. The
tidal elevation
would concur with the natural swing of the
when the centrifugal tendency
was nearly equal to gravity, the concurrence of the tidal
and oscillatory movements might quite overcome gravitation, and the tidally elevated mass might completely
As only the tidally elevated
separate from the earth.
portion of the earth would be subjected to this joint
influence, only this portion would separate, and the earth
would not fly to pieces.f The rotary velocity which would
earth-mass; and, at a time
* Rev. O. Fisher
says font or five hours. Nature, xxv, 243.
1 1 suspect a fallacy in this mode of reasoning. It might be correct
if
the
solar tidal...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(a) Now what can this mean ? Is it not an evident reference to tidal
action in the early stage of the history of our planet in its fourth Round ?
Modern research has been busy of late in its speculations on the
Palaeozoic high-tides. Mr. Darwin s theory was that not less than
52,000,000 years ago—and probably much more—the Moon originated
from the Earth's plastic mass. Starting from the point where research
was left by Helmholtz, Ferrel, Sir William Thomson and others, he
retraced the course of tidal retardation of the earth's rotary motions
far back into the very night of time, and placed the Moon during the
infancy of our planet at only " a fraction of its present distance." In
short, his theory was that it is the Moon which separated from the
Earth. The tidal elevation concurring with the swing of the globular
mass—centrifugal tendency being then nearly equal to gravity—the
latter was overcome, and the tidally elevated mass could thus separate
completely from the Earth.*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...cyclical,
the same conditions would recur again and again; and
accordingly the same fauna might return again and again
to the same region, with intervals of occupation by another
Progressive sedimentation would preserve the
records of such faunal alternations; and there would be
"
"
reapparitions,"
presented the phenomena of colonies,"
and other faunal dislocations in the vertical and horizontal
fauna.
distribution
of
fossil
remains.
These phenomena are
known
The progressive
to the student of geology.*
regional differentiation of lands and seas due to the secular
loss of planetary heat would be a cumulative cause of slow
well
but inevitable changes in the fauna at its successive recurrences, and would limit the number of recurrences of the
same fauna.
This action would be most sensibly felt in
The depths of the ocean,
which retain most uniformly their cosmic conditions, would
shallower seas and on land.
witness the longest series of recurrences of the same or a
kindred...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Speaking on periodical elevation and subsidence of the equatorial and polar regions,
and ensuing changes of climate, Mr. Winchell (professor of Geology at Michigan) says
—" As the movements here contemplated are cyclical, the same conditions would recur
again and again ; and accordingly the same fauna might return again and again to the
same region, with intervals of occupation by another fauna. Progressive sedimentation would preserve the records of such faunal alterations; and there would be
presented the phenomena of ' colonies ' ' re-apparitions' and other faunal dislocations in the vertical and horizontal distributions of fossil remains. These phenomena
are well known to the student of geology." (" Effects of Astronomical changes.")
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(5%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...the equinoctial point falls back
50". 1 annually. It would of itself, therefore, complete
direct,
the circuit of the ecliptic in twenty-five thousand, eight
hundred and sixty-eight years. But as the apsis goes for*The
reader will find some discussions of axial inclination as a cause of
Drayson. Qi/ar. Jour. Geol. Soc.. xxii Thomas Belt,
Amer. Jour. Sri., Ill, ix, 313-5: Croll: Climate and
Time, ch. xxv, where Drayson and Belt are discussed.
terrestrial glaciation in
Id., Oct., 1874, abstract,
;
A COOLIXG PLANET.
286
ward to meet it at the rate of 11". 24* annually, this
would complete a revolution in one hundred and fifteen
thousand, three hundred and two years. The approximation of the equinox and the apsis is the sum of these
motions, 61". 34, and hence the equinox returns to the
same position in relation to the apse in twenty-one thouThe earth's
sand, one hundred and twenty-eight years.
axis was inclined exactly from the sun at perihelion, in the
year 1248. It now (1883...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* There are other cycles, of course, cycles within cycles—and this is just that which
creates such a difficulty in the calculations of racial events. The circuit of the ecliptic
is completed in 25,868 years. And, with regard to our Earth, it is calculated that the
equinoctial point falls back fifty minutes ten seconds, annually. But there is another
cycle within this one. It is said that " as the apsis goes forward to meet it at the rate
of eleven minutes twenty-four seconds, annually," (see the article on Astronomy in
Encyclopedia Britannica), " this would complete a revolution in one hundred and
fifteen thousand three hundred and two years (115,302). The approximation of the
equinox and the apsis is the sum of these motions, sixty-one minutes thirty-four
seconds, and hence the equinox returns to the same position in relation to the apsis
in 21,128 years." We have mentioned this cycle in Isis Unveiled, Vol. I., in relation
to other cycles. Each has a marked influence on its contemporary race. pre-historic statues.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1%) Monographien/Ennis, Jacob (1881) The Origin of the Stars, and the Causes of their Motions and their Light.pdf [view file]
...the
disappeared after three months, but reappeared
In
17, 1671, when it was of the fourth.
fifth;
it
again
March
It recovered its
brightness was very variable.
in
in
but
ten
mouths,
original splendor
February, 1672, it
March
It
29th, as a star
reappeared again,
disappeared.
April
its
of the sixth magnitude, and since then it has not been seen.
1848, April 28th. In Ophiuchus of the fifth magnitude ;
and
in
1850
it
decreased to the tenth.
By this brief statement of facts it appears that temporary
have been eminently variable in their amounts of light,
and therefore they have shown their intimate relationship
to the class of irregular stars, especially to those which
stars
have been most irregular, as Eta Argus and Coronas R.
CAUSE OF TEMPORARY STARS.
125
Three of them disappeared and appeared again, two of
them repeating this operation twice. At their first appearance they all, except three, burst forth with the effulgency
of first-magnitude stars, some of them more...
(1%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...A.
Variable Phase.
Photosphere periodically darkened by the condensation of large amounts of macular
matter.
Probably approaching total liquefaction. Spectrum as in Second Phase, but with numerous nebulous
bands brightest on the side toward the red. Periodic and
Irregular Stars (Secchi's Third Type). Some variable
stars probably advanced to incipient incrustation.
4.
Molten Phase. Photospheric matter exhausted by
Absorbent media greatlv reduced. A molten globe.
Spectrum continuous. Probably some of the
Star Clusters and Resolvable Nebula?.
5.
precipitation.
6.
The
Incrustive Phase.
Early periods of incrustation.
becomes ruddy. Incipient darkening. Spectrum
of dark linos, but crossed bv three bright bands, brightest
on the side toward the violet. Red Stars (Secchi's Fourth
light
Type).
am much
in doubt concerning the proper position of
Their spectra, unless some explanation can he
given, would place them between the Nebular and Stellar Stages. I
assume, therefore, that the...
(1%) Monographien/Jevons, W. Stanley (1874) The Principles of Science.pdf [view file]
...variable stars are of a reddish colour. Not all variable
stars are red, nor all red stars variable, but considering
that onl v a small fraction of the observed stars are known
"
to be variable,
and only a small fraction are red, the
number which fall into both classes is too great to be
accidental h. It is also remarkable that the greater number
of stars possessing great proper motion are double stars,
the star 6 I Cygni being especially noticeable in this
respect i. The correlation in these cases is not perfect
and without exception, but the preponderance is so great
as to point to some natural correlation, the exact nature
of which must be a matter for future investigation. Sir
John Herschel has remarked that the two double stars
6 r Cygni and a Centauri of which the orbits were well
ascertained, evidently belonged to the same family or
genus k.
g 'Philosophical Magazine,' 4th Series, vol. xxxix.
p. 396 ; vol. xi.
p. 183; vol. xli. p. 44· h Humbol<lt, 'Cosmos,' (Bobn) vol. iii. p.
[ 2 more ]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ Astronomy, however, knows nothing of stars that have disappeared unless from
visibility, never from existence, since the Science of Astronomy became known.
Temporary stars are only variable stars, and it is believed even that the new stars of
Kepler and Tycho Brahé may still be seen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(11%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...nebula
to condense to the present dimensions of the sun.
Professor
Newcomb
S.
requires only ten million years to
attain a temperature of 212 Fahr.
Croll estimates seventy
million years
for the diffusion of the heat which would
||
be produced by the collision of two such nebulas as would
constitute the primitive nebula postulated by the theory.
But meantime Bischof
calculates that 350 million years
would be required for the earth to cool from a temperature
*
Rev.
t
Thomson and
S.
Parsons, Meth. Quar. Rev., Jan., 1877, pp. 142-3.
Tait: Natural Philosophy, Appendix D, also
832. 833, 834,
Glasgow address) ; Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., xxiii,
847, 848 (but 847-9 cancelled in
pt. I, 157, 1863.
J
Thomson. Trans.
Geol. Soc., Glasgow,
Xewcomb: Popular Astronomy,
I
Croll: Climate
and Time, 335.
509.
iii, 1.
ORIGIN OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
180
to 200 centigrade.
Reade, basing his estimate
on observed rates of denudation, demands 500 million
of 2,000
years since sedimentation...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sir William Thomson, on the basis of the observed principles of
cooling, concludes that no more than ten million years (elsewhere he
makes it 100,000,000) can have elapsed since the temperature of the
Earth was sufficiently reduced to sustain vegetable life.* Helmholz
calculates that twenty million years would suffice for the original
nebula to condense to the present dimensions of the sun. Prof. S.
Newcomb requires only ten millions to attain a temperature of 212 Fahr.+
Croll estimates seventy million years for the diffusion of the heat, etc.++
Bischof calculates that 350 million years would be required for the earth
to cool from a temperature of 2,000 to 2000 Centigrade. Read, basing
his estimate on observed rates of denudation, demands 500 million
years since sedimentation began in Europe, § Lyell ventured a rough
guess of 240 million years ; Darwin thought 300 million years demanded
by the organic transformations which his theory contemplates, and
Huxley is disposed to demand a 1,000 millions" (! !).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...biologists, impressed by the slowness of organic transformations, seem
to close their eyes tight and leap at one bound into the
seems to
abyss of millions of years, of which they have no more
adequate estimate than of infinity. They have a sort of
impression that some hundreds of millions would not be
too much. They are destitute of the first exact chronological
datum from which
to set out.
Similarly, certain
physical geologists having roughly estimated the rate at
which erosion is going on, make this best attainable
knowledge the
basis of
a provisional calculation of the
time required for all the erosion which they suppose to
have taken place.
Manifestly, the result involves too
many guesses and estimates and best judgments to be of
in subverting the significance of the uniformities
of the solar system and the starry heavens.
Lastly, the
any value
physicists have proceeded from
more exact methods, to results
more exact data, and by
embracing fewer unascer-
*Readc, Address...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To this Prof. Winched observes that " some biologists .... seem
to close their eyes tight and leap at one bound into the abyss of
millions of years, of which they have no more adequate estimate than of
infinity." Then he proceeds to give what he takes to be more correct
geological figures : a few will suffice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8%) Monographien/Winchell, Alexander (1883) World-Life.pdf [view file]
...decline of the continental
It does not concern, however, the antiquity of
the Black and Brown races, since there are numerous eviits
glaciers.
dences" of
more southern regions,
their existence in
in
times remotely pre-glacial.
2.
THE MOON.
manque qnelque chose aux geolognes pour faire la geologic de la Lune,
c'est d'etre astronomes. A la verite il manque aussi quelque chose aux astronomes pour aborder avec fruit cette etude, c'est d'etre geolognes. M. FATE.
Die Anziehung welche die Erde an dem Monde ausubt, zur Zeit seiner
II
ursprunlichen Bildung, als seine Masse noch flussig war, die Achsendrehung, die
dieser Nebenplanet damals vermuthlich mit grosserer Geschwindigkeit gehabt
haben niag, auf die angefuhrte Art bis zu diesem abgemessenen Ueberreste
gebracht haben musse.
KANT.
1.
Planet ological Retrospect. The moon's volume is
.0203; its density .6167; its mass .0125,* the earth's corresponding constants being unity. The relative amount of
heat originally possessed by the...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the last glacial period extended from 240,000 to 8o,ooo years ago
(Prof. Croll's view), therefore, man must have appeared on earth from
100 to 120,000 years ago. But, as says Prof. Winchell, with reference
to the antiquity of the Mediterranean race, " it is generally believed to
have made its appearance during the later decline of the continent a
glaciers." Yet, he adds, this " does not concern, however, the
antiquity of the Black and Brown races, since there are numerous
evidences of their existence in more southern regions, in times remotely
pre-glacial" (p. 379).