Eureka: A Prose Poem — Edgar A. Poe, 1848 — reading text

atoms together would induce an effort, on the part of the repulsive influence, to prevent the contact, we may as well use the strictly convertible sen tence that an attempt to bring together any two differences will result in a development of electricity. All existing bodies, of course, are composed of these atoms in proximate contact, and are therefore to be considered as mere assem blages of more or fewer differences ; and the resistance made by the repulsive spirit, on bringing together any two such assemblages, would be in the ratio of the two sums of the differences in each : — an expression which, when re duced, is equivalent to this : — The amount of electricity developed on the approximation of two bodies, is propor- THE UNIVERSE. 37 tional to the difference between the respective sums of the atoms of which the bodies are composed. That no two bodies are absolutely alike, is a simple corollary from all that has been here said. Electricity, therefore, existing always, is developed whenever any bodies, but manifested only when bodies of appreciable difference, are brought into approximation. To electricity — so, for the present, continuing to call it — we may not be wrong in referring the various physical appearances of light, heat and magnetism ; but far less shall we be liable to err in attributing to this strictly spiritual principle the more important pheenomena of vitality, con sciousness and Thought. On this topic, however, I need pause here merely to suggest that these phenomena, whe ther observed generally or in detail, seem to proceed at least in the ratio of the heterogeneous. Discarding now the two equivocal terms, " gravitation " and "electricity," let us adopt the more definite expres sions, " attraction " and " repulsion." The former is the body ; the latter the soul : the one is the material ; the other the spiritual, principle of the Universe. No other principles exist. All phenomena are referable to one, or to the other, or to both combined. So rigorously is this the case — so thoroughly demonstrable is it that attraction and repulsion are the sole properties through which we perceive the Universe — in other words, by which Matter is mani fested to Mind — that, for all merely argumentative purposes, we are fully justified in assuming that matter exists only as attraction and repulsion — that attraction and repulsion are matter : — there being no conceivable case in which we 38 EUREKA. may not employ the term " matter " and the terms " at traction " and " repulsion," taken together, as equivalent, and therefore convertible, expressions in Logic. I said, just now, that what I have described as the ten dency of the diffused atoms to return into their original unity, would be understood as the principle of the New tonian law of gravity : and, in fact, there can be little diffi culty in such an understanding, if we look at the New tonian gravity in a merely general view, as a force impel ling matter to seek matter ; that is to say, when we pay no attention to the known modus operandi of the Newtonian force. The general coincidence satisfies us ; but, upon look ing closely, we see, in detail, much that appears ^coincident, and much in regard to which no coincidence, at least, is established. For example ; the Newtonian gravity, when we think of it in certain moods, does not seem to be a tend ency to oneness at all, but rather a tendency of all bodies in all directions — a phrase apparently expressive of a tend ency to diffusion. Here, then, is an ^coincidence. Again ; when we reflect on the mathematical law governing the Newtonian tendency, we see clearly that no coincidence has been made good, in respect of the modus operandi, at least, between gravitation as known to exist and that seem ingly simple and direct tendency which I have assumed. In fact, I have attained a point at which it will be ad visable to strengthen my position by reversing my pro cesses. So far, we have gone on a priori, from an abstract consideration of Simplicity, as that quality most likely to have characterized the original action of God. Let us now see whether the established facts of the Newtonian Gravi- THE UNIVERSE. 39 tation may not afford us, a posteriori, some legitimate in ductions. What does the Newtonian law declare ? — That all bo dies attract each other with forces proportional to their quantities of matter and inversely proportional to the squares of their distances. Purposely, I have here given, in the first place, the vulgar version of the law ; and I confess that in this, as in most other vulgar versions of great truths, we find little of a suggestive character. Let us now adopt a more philosophical phraseology '.—Every atom, of every body, attracts every other atom, both of its own and of every other body, with a force which varies inversely as the squares of the distances between the attracting and attracted atom. — Here, indeed, a flood of suggestion bursts upon the mind. But let us see distinctly what it was that Newton proved — according to the grossly irrational definitions of proof prescribed by the metaphysical schools. He was forced to content himself with showing how thoroughly the motions of an imaginary Universe, composed of attracting and attracted atoms obedient to the law he announced, coincide with those of the actually existing Universe so far as it comes under our observation. This was the amount of his demonstration — that is to say, this was the amount of it, according to the conventional cant of the " philoso phies." His successes added proof multiplied by proof — such proof as a sound intellect admits — but the demonstra tion of the law itself, persist the metaphysicians, had not been strengthened in any degree. " Ocular, physical proof," however, of attraction, here upon Earth, in accordance with the Newtonian theory, was, at length, much to the 40 EUREKA. satisfaction of some intellectual grovellers, afforded. This proof arose collaterally and incidentally (as nearly all im portant truths have arisen) out of an attempt to ascertain the mean density of the Earth. In the famous Maskelyne, Cavendish and Bailly experiments for this purpose, the at traction of the mass of a mountain was seen, felt, mea sured, and found to be mathematically consistent with the immortal theory of the British astronomer. But in spite of this confirmation of that which needed none — in spite of the so-called corroboration of the " theory" by the so-called " ocular and physical proof" — in spite of the character of this corroboration — the ideas which even really philosophical men cannot help imbibing of gravity — and, especially, the ideas of it which ordinary men get and contentedly maintain, are seen to have been derived, for the most part, from a consideration of the principle as they find it developed — merely in the planet upon which they stand. Now, to what does so partial a consideration tend — to what species of error does it give rise ? On the Earth we see and/ee/, only that gravity impels all bodies towards the centre of the Earth. No man in the common walks of life could be made to see or to feel anything else — could be made to perceive that anything, anywhere, has a perpetual, gravitating tendency in any other direction than to the centre of the Earth ; yet (with an exception hereafter to be specified) it is a fact that every earthly thing (not to speak now of every heavenly thing) has a tendency not only to the Earth's centre but in every conceivable direction be sides. THE UNIVERSE. 41 Now, although the philosophic cannot be said to err with the vulgar in this matter, they nevertheless permit themselves to be influenced, without knowing it, by the sentiment of the vulgar idea. " Although the Pagan fables are not believed," says Bryant, in his very erudite " My thology," " yet we forget ourselves continually and make inferences from them as from existing realities." I mean to assert that the merely sensitive perception of gravity as we experience it on Earth, beguiles mankind into the fancy of concentralization or especially respecting it — has been continually biasing towards this fancy even the mightiest intellects — perpetually, although imperceptibly, leading them away from the real characteristics of the principle ; thus preventing them, up to this date, from ever getting a glimpse of that vital truth which lies in a diametrically opposite direction — behind the principle's essential characteristics — those, not of concentralization or especiality — but of uni versality and diffusion. This " vital truth " is Unity as the source of the phenomenon. Let me now repeat the definition of gravity : — Every atom, of every body, attracts every other atom, both of its own and of every other body, with a force which varies inversely as the squares of the distances of the attracting and attracted atom. Here let the reader pause with me, for a moment, in contemplation of the miraculous — of the ineffable — of the altogether unimaginable complexity of relation involved in the fact that each atom attracts every other atom — involved merely in this fact of the attraction, without reference to the law or mode in which the attraction is manifested — 42 EUREKA. involved merely in the fact that each atom attracts every other atom at all, in a wilderness of atoms so numerous that those which go to the composition of a cannon-ball, exceed, probably, in mere point of number, all the stars which go to the constitution of the Universe. Had we discovered, simply, that each atom tended to some one favorite point — to some especially attractive atom — we should still have fallen upon a discovery which, in itself, would have sufficed to overwhelm the mind : — but what is it that we are actually called upon to comprehend ? That each atom attracts — sympathizes with the most deli cate movements of every other atom, and with each and with all at the same time, and forever, and according to a determinate law of which the complexity, even considered by itself solely, is utterly beyond the grasp of the imagina tion of man. If 1 propose to ascertain the influence of one mote in a sunbeam upon its neighboring mote, I cannot accomplish my purpose without first counting