"The view of the formation of the planets in this system
has the advantage over every other possible theory
in holding that the origin of the movements, and the
position of the orbits in arising at that same point of
time--nay, more, in showing that even the deviations
from the greatest possible exactness in their determinations,
as well as the accordances themselves, become
clear at a glance. The planets are formed out of particles
which, at the distance at which they move, have
exact movements in circular orbits; and therefore the
masses composed out of them will continue the same
movements and at the same rate and in the same direction."[2]


It must be admitted that this explanation leaves a
good deal to be desired. It is the explanation of a
metaphysician rather than that of an experimental
scientist. Such phrases as "matter immediately begins
to strive to fashion itself," for example, have no
place in the reasoning of inductive science. Nevertheless,
the hypothesis of Kant is a remarkable conception;
it attempts to explain along rational lines
something which hitherto had for the most part been
considered altogether inexplicable.

But there are various questions that at once suggest
themselves which the Kantian theory leaves unanswered.
How happens it, for example, that the cosmic
mass which gave birth to our solar system was divided
into several planetary bodies instead of remaining a