6

10

opinions that are widely spread on this subject.
I will briefly state them and point out just how
much arbitrariness each supposes.

Beginning with the middling one in the
degree of arbitrariness that it allows, which
is, no doubt, the opinion of the largest party
among those who know enough of dynamics
to entertain such a conception, this view is
that the material universe is composed of
particles of some kind each having at any one
instant its position in space, and also its
velocity, determinate in direction and in
amount; and it is held that physical
laws are of such a nature that according
to the positions of the particles at any instant

10

opinions that are widely spread on this subject.
I will briefly state them and point out just how uch arbitrariness each supposes.

Beginning with the middling one in the degree of arbitrariness that it allows, which is, no doubt, the opinion of the largest party among those who know enough of dynamics to entertain such a conception, this view is that the material universe is composed of particles of some kind each having at any one instant its position in space, and also its velocity, determinate in direction and in amount; and it is held that physical laws are of such a nature that according to the positions of the particles at any instant