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
The Major Part's Opinion, was, That if the Roots, Seeds, or Springs
of a Society, or Creature, were not dissolved and dispersed, those
Creatures might be restored to their former condition of Life, if
they were put, or received, into the Restoring Beds: As for example,
A dry and withered Rood of some Vegetable, although the Parts of that
Vegetable be, as we say, dead; yet, they are often restored by the
means of some Arts: also, dead Sprigs will, by Art, receive new Life.
The Minor Part's Opinion, was, That if there were such actions of
Nature, as Restoring actions; yet, they could not be the Poysing
Actions, nor the Artificial Actions: for, not any dead Creature can be
restored by Art.
III.
Some of the Gravest Parts of my Mind, made this following Discourse to
some other Parts of my Mind.
_Dear Associates_, There hath been many Human Societies, that have
perswaded themselves, That there are such Restoring Actions of Nature,
which will restore, not only a Dead, but a Dispersed Society; by reason
they have observed, That Vegetables seem to dye in one Season, and
to revive in another: as also, that the Artificial Actions of Human
Creatures, can produce several Artificial Effects, that resemble those
we name _Natural_; which hath occasioned many Human Creatures to wast
their Time and Estates, with Fire and Furnace, cruelly torturing the
Productions of Nature, to make their Experiments. Also, they trouble
themselves with poring and peeping through Telescopes, Microscopes,
and the like Toyish Arts, which neither get Profit, nor improve their
Understanding: for, all such Arts prove rather ignorant Follies, than
wise Considerations; Art being so weak and defective, that it cannot so
much assist, as it doth hinder Nature: but, there is as much difference
between Art and Nature, as between a Statue and a Man; and yet Artists
believe they can perfect what by Nature is defective; so that they
can rectifie Nature's Irregularities; and do excuse some of their
Artificial actions, saying, they only endeavour to hasten the actions
of Nature: as if Nature were slower than Art, because a Carver can cut
a Figure or Statue of a Man, having all his Materials ready at hand,
before a Child can be finished in the Breeding-Bed. But, Art being the
sporting and toyish actions of Nature, we will not consider them at
this time.
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