The Metaphysical Foundation of Buddhism and Modern Science
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throughout the utmost recesses <strong>of</strong> space <strong>and</strong> time. Of course, it is<br />
natural, <strong>and</strong> for certain purposes entirely proper, to speak <strong>of</strong> the focal<br />
region, thus modified, as the thing itself situated there. But difficulties<br />
arise if we press this way <strong>of</strong> thought to far. For physics, the thing itself<br />
is what is does, <strong>and</strong> what it does is this divergent stream <strong>of</strong> influence.<br />
Again the focal region cannot be separated from the external stream. It<br />
obstinately refuses to be conceived as an instantaneous fact. It is a<br />
state <strong>of</strong> agitation, only differing from the so-called external stream by<br />
its superior dominance within the focal region. Also we are puzzled how<br />
to express exactly the existence <strong>of</strong> these physical things at any definite<br />
moment <strong>of</strong> time. For at every instantaneous point-event, within or<br />
without the focal region, the modification to be ascribed to this thing is<br />
antecedent to, or successive to, the corresponding modification<br />
introduced by that thing at another point-event. Thus if we endeavor to<br />
conceive a complete instance <strong>of</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> the physical thing in<br />
question, we cannot confine ourselves to one part <strong>of</strong> space or to one<br />
moment <strong>of</strong> time. <strong>The</strong> physical thing is a certain coordination <strong>of</strong> spaces<br />
<strong>and</strong> times <strong>and</strong> conditions in those spaces at times, this coordination<br />
illustrating one exemplification <strong>of</strong> a certain general rule, expressible in<br />
terms <strong>of</strong> mathematical relations. Here we have returned to a<br />
fundamental Platonic doctrine.<br />
Again, with the denial <strong>of</strong> simple location we must admit that within any<br />
region <strong>of</strong> space-time the innumerable multitude <strong>of</strong> these physical things<br />
are in a sense superposed. Thus the physical fact at each region <strong>of</strong>