This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1748 edition. Excerpt: ... but a fine Machine, all the Pieces of which are so well matched, and ordered with such persect Correspondence, that one of them being moved by the external Object, that has hold of it, immediately determines the rest to move in such or such a Manner. The Nerves of each Organ being touched as they ought, ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1748 edition. Excerpt: ... but a fine Machine, all the Pieces of which are so well matched, and ordered with such persect Correspondence, that one of them being moved by the external Object, that has hold of it, immediately determines the rest to move in such or such a Manner. The Nerves of each Organ being touched as they ought, transmit to the Members their different Motions, whence such or such an Action is the result. ThisThought is grand, and bold; it is even persuasive when one considers it without Prejudice. But it would weaken it to build it's Probability upon Examples or Similitudes. An Oyster or a Snail, which of all animated Beings seem to be the most infirm, is beyond Comparison much above the most persect Watch, or whatever else Art can produce that is most ingenious. The lowest of Mankind, can never be persuaded to look upon the Actions of a Horse, a Hound, &c. as the Result of a Mechanism, which is purely material. To have a Relish for this Philosophy, one must be but very little of a Philosopher. "without doubt we shall rather choose to believe, that the Body of a Brute, is animated and governed by an intelligent Being, which begins to live, and dies with it, and which is the Principle of all it's Thoughts, and of all those Judgments, of which we think we see Indications in the several Actions of Animals. This Opinion is neither contrary to Reason, nor to the Doctrines of Religion, and has found Patrons, and still finds them to this Day; and that not only among the Vulgar, who judge only from Appearances, Appearances, but even among such at think, and who entertain no Opinions till after they have thoroughly examined them. But it must not be thought, that in taking this Side of the Question, we are put above all Difficulties. When we consider the Docility...
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