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 not only several sorts of Properties belonging to several
sorts of Creatures, but several sorts of Properties belonging to one
and the same sort of Creature; and amongst the several sorts of Human
Properties, Human Heat is one, which Man names _Natural Heat_: but,
when there is a general alteration of the Human Properties, there is
that alteration of the Property as well of his Natural, as Human Heat:
but, Natural Heat is not the cause of Human Life, though Human Life is
the cause of that Natural Heat: so that, when Human Life is altered or
dissolved, Human Heat is altered or dissolved: And as Death is opposite
Actions to that Man names _Life_; so Cold is opposite Actions to that
Man names _Heat_.
CHAP. IX. Of the Last Act of Human Life.
The reason some Human Creatures dye in more pain than others, is, That
the Motions of some Human Creatures are in strife, because some would
continue their accustomed Actions, others would alter their accustomed
Actions; which Strife causes Irregularities, and those Irregularities
cause Differences, or Difficulties, which causes Pain: but certainly,
the last Act of Human Life is easie; not only that the Expulsive
Actions of Human Respirations, are more easie than the Attracting
Actions; but, that in the last act of Human Life, all the Motions do
generally agree in one Action.
CHAP. X. Whether a Human Creature hath Knowledg in Death, or not?
Some may ask the Question, _Whether a dead Man hath any Knowledg or
Perception?_ I answer, That a dead Man hath not a Human Knowledg or
Perception; yet all, and every Part, hath Knowledg and Perception:
But, by reason there is a general alteration of the actions of the
Parts of a Human Creature, there cannot possibly be a Human Knowledg
or Perception. But some may say, That a Man in a Swound hath a general
alteration of Human actions; and yet those Parts of a Human Creature
do often repeat those former actions, and then a Man is as he was
before he was in that Swound. I answer, That the reason why a Man in
a Swound hath not the same Knowledg as when he is not in a Swound,
is, That the Human Motions are not generally altered, but only are
generally irregular; which makes such a disturbance, that no Part can
move so regularly, as to make proper Perceptions; as in some sorts of
Distempers, a Man may be like a Natural Fool; in others, he may be Mad;
and is subject to many several Distempers, which cause several Effects:
but a Human Swound is somewhat like Sleeping without Dreaming; that is,
the Exterior Senses do not move to Human Exterior Perception.
CHAP. XI. Whether a Creature may be new Formed, after a general
Dissolution.
Some may ask the Question, _Whether a Human Creature, or any other
Creature, after their Natural Properties are quite altered, can be
repeated, and rechanged, to those Properties that formerly were?_
I answer, Yes, in case none of the Fundamental Figurative Parts be
dissolved.
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