continuity of forms, n.All

Continuity of forms (n.) as ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a law does not come after the systems of nature; it first produced what is systematic in our cognition of nature.

Continuity of forms (n.) holds ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠that all manifolds are akin, descended through every degree of extended determination from a single highest genus, with a graduated passage from every species to every other.

Continuity of forms (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a mere idea: real species are a discrete quantum, and a continuous affinity would require a true infinity of intermediate members between any two — which is impossible.

Continuity of forms (n.) means ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠there is no vacuum of forms: species do not border one another by a leap, but only through every smaller degree of difference, so that intervening species are always possible.