by which the past
lives in the present and the present for the future, I define HUMANITY, in
the universal tongue of mathematics and mechanics, to be the TIME-BINDING
CLASS OF LIFE.

These definitions of the cardinal classes of life are, it will be noted,
obtained from direct observation; they are so simple and so important that
I cannot over-emphasize the necessity of grasping them and most especially
the definition of Man. For these simple definitions and especially that of
Humanity will profoundly transform the whole conception of human life in
every field of interest and activity; and, what is more important than
all, the definition of Man will give us a starting point for discovering
the _natural_ laws of human nature--of the human class of life. The
definitions of the classes of life represent the different classes as
distinct in respect to dimensionality; and this is extremely important for
no measure or rule of one class can be applied to the other, _without
making grave mistakes_. For example, to treat a human being as an
animal--as a mere space-binder--because humans have certain animal
propensities, is an error of the same type and grossness as to treat a
cube as a surface because it has surface properties. It is absolutely
essential to grasp that fact if we are ever to have a science of human
nature.

We can represent the different classes of life in three life coordinates.
The minerals, with their inorganic activities would be the Zero (0)
dimension of "life"--that is the _lifeless_ class--here represented by the
point _M_.

The plants, with their "autonomous" growth, to be represented by the ONE
DIMENSIONAL line _MP_.

The animals, with their "autonomous" capacity to grow and to be active in
space by the TWO DIMENSIONAL plane _PAM_.

The humans, with their "autonomous" capacity to grow, to be active in
space AND TO BE ACTIVE IN TIME, by the THREE DIMENSIONAL region _MAPH_.

[ A drawing, like labeling the axes of a three-dimensional space. At the
center is "(Minerals) M". At the top of the Z axis is "H (Humans)". At the
end of the X axis is "P (Plants)". At the end of the Y axis is "A
(Animals)". ]

Such diagrammatic illustrations must not be taken too literally; they are
like figures of speech--helpful if understood--harmful if not understood.
The reader should reflect upon the simple idea of dimensions until he sees
clearly that the idea is not merely a thing of interest or of convenience,
but i