Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical OpinionsNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Physics -- Early works to 1800
CHAP. VI. Whether the Creatures in the Blessed World, do Feed, and
Evacuate.
The Eighth Argument, was, _Whether the Blessed Humans, in the Happy
World, did Eat, and Evacuate?_
They agreed, That, if they did feed, they must evacuate.
Then there was a Dispute, _Whether those Happy Creatures did eat?_
They all agreed, That, if they were Natural Human Creatures, they had
Natural Appetites: but, by reason there were no Irregularities in
this World, the Human Creatures had not any Irregular Appetites, nor
Irregular Digestions; Irregular Passions, or Irregular Pastimes.
Then there arose a Dispute, _Whether those Blessed Creatures did sleep?_
Some were of opinion, They did not sleep: for, Sleep was occasioned
through a weariness of the Sensitive Organs, making perceptions of
Forrein Objects; and all Weariness, or Tiredness, was Irregular.
The Major part of my Mind, was of a contrary Opinion; because the
delight of Nature, is in Variety: and therefore, Regular Sleeps were
delightful.
The Minor was of opinion, That Sleep was like Death, and therefore it
could not be Happy.
But, at last, they did conclude, That Sleep, being a soft and quiet
Repose, (as being retired from all Actions concerning Forrein Parts,
and had only Actions at Home, and of private Affairs; and that all the
Parts of Body and Mind, were then most sociable amongst themselves)
that the Blessed Humans did sleep.
CHAP. VII. Of the Animals, and of the Food of the Humans of the Happy
World.
The Ninth Argument, was, _Whether there were all sorts of Animals in
the Regular World?_ All the Parts of my Mind agreed, That if there were
such Creatures as Human Creatures, it was probable there was other
Animal Creatures: but, by reason there was no Irregularities, there
could not be Cruel or Ravenous Animal Creatures: for, a Lyon, Leopard,
or Wolf, in that World, would be as harmless as a Sheep in this; and
all Kites, Hawks, and the like ravenous Birds, would be as harmless as
those Birds that only feed on the Berries, and Fruit of the Earth.
CHAP. VIII. Whether it is not Irregular, for one Creature to feed on
another.
The Tenth Argument was, _Whether it was not Irregular, for one Creature
to feed on another?_
Some were of opinion, That it was natural for one Creature to subsist
by another, and to assist each other; but not cruelly to destroy each
other.
Upon this Argument, the Parts of my Mind divided into a Minor and a
Major part.
The Minor Part's opinion, was, That, since all the Creatures in Nature,
had Life; then, all Creatures that did feed, did destroy each other's
Life.
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