find that the thought
communicating only, as nearly as may be, the generic idea, will be
distinguished from it by the addition of but a single attribute as the
generic by itself is incapable of being represented in concrete form,
the expression of this thought in form will present us matter
distinguished from matter in general by but a single attribute. The
least possible individualizing attribute added to the highest possible
generalization gives us the simplest expression of an idea, and the form
or the organism symbolizing this thought will be the simplest form and
the simplest organism possible. For instance: in organic life the
highest generalization barely individualized will give us the simple
cell; and no matter what degree of complexity we subsequently reach by
the addition of an almost infinite number of attributes, we nevertheless
begin in every case with the same starting point.

Each higher type is reached by adding to a lower. The higher thus
embraces all that can be found in the lower, and something besides. This
method is invariable, and can never be departed from. The genus must
always be predicable of every individual component of every species
contained under it. Translating this law into the forms of material
expression, and it requires each higher species to physically include
all lower species, and to differ from them only by addition. Man, the
highest type, must thus include all the attributes of the cell as
physically expressed, and without them he would not be man. The
differences between no two terms in a series can be total. If the
successive steps in a train of thought must be related, so that no two
notions will be wholly distinct from each other, these notions will
constitute a series, each term of which will, in a measure, determine
the next, so soon as the law of the series is discovered; and if this
train of thought be objectively presented, it will afford a
corresponding series of physical terms, each one of which will in like
manner determine the next. But thought is impossible unless by a train
of ideas so related. Its physical expression will therefore be equally
impossible except by a series of physical terms similarly related, each
one of which in some manner determines the next. There must then be a
perfect continuity in the line that reaches from the simplest form of
matter through all grades of organic life up to man, the highest
expression of the divine idea. There can be no b