Connecticut western news., 1877-04-27
SCIENTIFIC.

Other Worlds.-Viewing the universe of suns and worlds in the manner here suggested, we would adopt a theory of other worlds which would hold posi- tion intermediate between the Brew sterian and Whewellite theories. Ut is not on this account that advocate it, let me remark in passing, but simply because it accords with the evidence, which is not the case with others.) Re- jectiDg on the one hand the theory of the plurality of worlds in the sense i'm plying that all existent worlds are in habited, and on the other hand the theory theory which might be entitled the Paucity of Worlds, only that relative not absolute paucity must be under stood. It is absolutely certain that this theory IS the correct one, if we admit two postulates, neither of which can be reasonably questioned-viz.,.f first that the life bearing era of any world is short compared with the entire dura- tion of that world; and secondly, that there can have been no cause which set ali the worlds in existence, not simul- enough. but (which would be infinitely more surprising) in such way that after passing each through it's time of preparation, longer for the large worlds and shorter for the small worlds, they all reached at. the same time the ll1e- bearing era. But quite apart from this antecedent probability, amounting as it does to absolute certainly if these two highly probable postulates are ad- mitted, we have the actual evidence O1 the plants we can examine that evi- dence proving incontestibly, as 1 have shown elsewhere, that such planets as l nd Co cf in Sf fof6 of preparation, still so intensely hot that no form of life could possibly exist upon them, and that such bodies as our moon have long since passed the life. bearing stage, and are to all intents anC purposes defunct. But may we not gC further7 Recognizing in our owr world, in many instances, what to oul ideas resembles waste-waste seeds waste lives, waste races, waste regions waste forces-recognizing superhuity and esuberabundance in all the pro cesses and in all the works of nature should it not appear at least possible of the worlds in the multitudiuous sys- tenn peopling space are not only no now supporting life, but never have supported life and never willP Doei this idea differ in kind, however large Fly to our feeble conceptions 1t may seem to differ in degree, from the ides of the imagined creatures on frui that some or even many fruits excel lently fitted for the support of lift might not subserve that purposef .Ant as those creatures might conceive (a we know) that some fruits, even many failed to come to the full perfection O ~ fruit life, may not we without irrever ence conceive Gas higher beings thai ourselves may know) that a planet or 1 sun may fail in the makingf We can not say that in such a case there wOult be 8 waste or loss of material, thougl we may be unable to conceive how tn. lost sun or. planet could be utilized Our imagined insect reasoner would b. unable to imagine that fruits plucket from their tree system would be other wise than wasted, for they would con Eceive that their idea of the purpose o fruits was the only true one; yet the. would be altogether mistaken, as W, may be in suppossing the main purpos of planetary existence is the support 0 life.