Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VII.djvu/25

 EVOLUTION EVREUX is exhibited in the universe as a whole and in all (or nearly all) its details: in the aggregate of stars and nebulae ; in the planetary system ; in the earth as an inorganic mass ; in each or- ganism, vegetal or animal (Von Baer's law); in the aggregate of organisms throughout geo- logic time; in the mind; in society; in all products of social activity. 6. The process of integration, acting locally as well as generally, combines with that of differentiation to render this change not simply from homogeneity to heterogeneity, but from an indefinite homoge- neity to a definite heterogeneity ; and this trait of increasing definiteness, which accompanies the trait of increasing heterogeneity, is like it exhibited in the totality of things, and in all its divisions and subdivisions down to the mi- nutest. 7. Along with this redistribution of the matter composing any evolving aggregate, there goes on a redistribution of the retained motion of its components in relation to one another ; this also becomes step by step more definitely heterogeneous. 8. In the absence of a homogeneity that is infinite and absolute, this redistribution of which evolution is one phase is inevitable. The causes which neces- sitate it are : 9. The instability of the homo- geneous ; which is consequent upon the differ- ent exposures of the different parts of any lim- ited aggregate to incident forces. 10. The trans- formations hence resulting are complicated by the multiplication of effects : every mass and part of a mass on which a force falls subdi- vides and differentiates that force, which there- upon proceeds to work a variety of changes, and each of these becomes the parent of simi- larly multiplying changes; the multiplication of these becoming greater in proportion as the aggregate becomes more heterogeneous. 11. These two causes of increasing differentia- tions are furthered by segregation, which is a process tending ever to separate unlike units and to bring together like units ; so serving continually to sharpen, or make definite, dif- ferentiations otherwise caused. 12. Equilibra- tion is the final result of these transformations which an evolving aggregate undergoes. The changes go on until there is reached an equili- brium between the forces which all parts of the aggregate are exposed to, and the forces these parts oppose to them. Equilibration may pass through a transition stage of balanced motions (as in a planetary system) or of balanced func- tions (as in a living body) on to the ultimate equilibrium ; but the state of rest in inorganic bodies, or death in organic bodies, is the neces- sary limit of the changes constituting evolution. 13. Dissolution is the counter change which sooner or later every evolved aggregate under- goes. Remaining exposed to surrounding forces that are unequilibrated, each aggregate is ever liable to be dissipated by the increase, gradual or sudden, of its contained motions; and its dissipation, quickly undergone by bodies lately animate and slowly undergone by inanimate masses, remains to be undergone at an indefi- nitely remote period by each planetary and stel- lar mass, which since an indefinitely remote period in the past has been slowly evolving ; the cycle of its transformations being thus completed. 14. This rhythm of evolution and dissolution, completing itself during short pe- riods in small aggregates, and in the vast ag- gregates distributed throughout space, comple- ting itself in periods which are immeasurable by human thought, is as far as we can see uni- versal and eternal ; each alternating phase of the process predominating now in this region of space and now in that, as local conditions determine. 15. All these phenomena, from their great features down to their minutest details, are necessary results of the persistence offeree, under its forms of matter and motion. Given these in their known distributions through space, and their quantities being unchangeable either by increase or decrease, there inevitably result the continuous redistributions distinguish- able as evolution and dissolution, as well as all those special traits above enumerated. 16. That which persists unchanging in quantity but ever- changing in form, under these sensible appear- ances which the universe presents to us, trans- cends human knowledge and conception is an unknown and unknowable power, which we are obliged to recognize as without limit in space and without beginning or end in time." Besides the works already mentioned, the following are important : Spencer's "First Principles," " Principles of Biology," "Princi- ples of Psychology," " Principles of Sociology," and "Descriptive Sociology "(1860-"73); Dar- win's "Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication" (1868); St. George Mivart's "The Genesis of Species" (1871); Huxley's "Man's Place in Nature" (1864), "Lay Ser- mons" (1870), and "Critiques and Addresses" (1873). The relation of the doctrine of evo- lution ' to Christianity is discussed in " The Bible and the Doctrine of Evolution," by W. W. Smyth (1873) ; "The Theory of Evolution," by the Rev. E. Henslow (1873) ; " What is Darwinism? " by Charles Hodge, D. D. (1874) ; and " The Doctrine of Evolution," by Alexan- der Winchell, LL. D. (1874). EVORA, a city of Portugal, capital of the prov- ince of Alemtejo, 75 m. E. S..E. of Lisbon; pop. about 12,000. It is surrounded by a wall, and has remains of two ancient forts. It is the seat of an archbishop, and has a splendid Gothic cathedral, a number of convents, hos- pitals, a house of charity, a diocesan school, barracks, a museum, and some manufactures of hardware and leather. A university, estab- lished in 1550, and placed under the direction of the Jesuits, was suppressed at the time of the exile of that order (1767). Among the nu- merous monuments of antiquity are a ruined temple of Diana, and an aqueduct by which the city is still supplied. EVREUX (anc. Mediolanum, or Civitas J^ou- rovicum), a city of Normandy, France, capita] of the department of Eure, 55 m. W. by N. ot