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
There are so many different composed Parts, and so much of variety of
Action in every several Part of one Creature, as 'tis impossible for
Human Perception to perceive them; nay, not every Corporeal Motion of
one Creature, doth perceive all the varieties of the same Society; and,
by the several actions, not only of several Parts, but of one and the
same Parts, cause such obscurity, as not any Creature can tell, not
only how they were produced, but, not how they consist: But, by reason
every Part knows his own Work, there is Order and Method: For example,
In a Human Creature, those Parts that produce, or nourish the Bones,
those of the Sinews, those of the Veins, those of the Flesh, those of
the Brains, and the like, know all their several Works, and consider
not each several composed Part, but what belongs to themselves; the
like, I believe, in Vegetables, Minerals, or Elements. But mistake me
not; for, I do not say, those Corporeal Motions in those particulars,
are bound to those particular Works, as, that they cannot change, or
alter their actions if they will, and many times do: as some Creatures
dissolve before they are perfect, or quite finished; and some as soon
as finished; and some after some short time after they are finished;
and some continue long, as we may perceive by many Creatures that dye,
which I name Dissolving in several Ages; but, untimely Dissolutions,
proceed rather from some particular Irregularities of some particular
Parts, than by a general Agreement.
CHAP. IV. Of Productions in general.
The Reason that all Creatures are produced by the ways of Production,
as one Creature to be composed out of other Creatures, is, That
Nature is but one Matter, and that all her Parts are united as one
Material Body, having no Additions, or Diminutions; no new Creations,
or Annihilations: But, were not Nature one and the same, but that her
Parts were of different natures; yet, Creatures must be produced by
Creatures, that is, Composed Figures, as a Beast, a Tree, a Stone,
Water, &c. must be composed of _Parts_, not a _single Part_: for, a
single Part cannot produce composed Figures; nor can a single Part
produce another single Part; for, Matter cannot create Matter; nor can
one Part produce another Part out of it self: Wherefore, all Natural
Creatures are produced by the consent and agreement of many Self-moving
Parts, or Corporeal Motions, which work to a particular Design, as to
associate into particular kinds and sorts of Creatures.
CHAP. V. Of Productions in general.
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