Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural Philosophy
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676; Philosophy
Outward Objects, as I have told you before, do not make Sense and
Reason, but Sense and Reason do perceive and judg of outward objects;
For the Sun doth not make sight, nor doth sight make light; but sense
and reason in a Man, or any other creature, do perceive and know there
are such objects as Sun, and Light, or whatsoever objects are presented
to them. Neither doth Dumbness, Deafness, Blindness, &c. cause an
Insensibility, but Sense through irregular actions causes them; I
say, through Irregular actions, because those effects do not properly
belong to the nature of that kind of Creatures; for every Creature,
if regularly made, hath particular motions proper to its figure; for
natural Matters wisdom makes distinctions by her distinct corporeal
motions, giving every particular Creature their due Portion and
Proportion according to the nature of their figures, and to the rules
of her actions, but not to the rules of Arts, Mathematical Compasses,
Lines, Figures, and the like. And thus the Sun, Stars, Meteors, Air,
Fire, Water, Earth, Minerals, Vegetables and Animals, may all have
Sense and Reason, although it doth not move in one kind or sort of
Creatures, or in one particular, as in another: For the corporeal
motions differ not onely in kinds and sorts, but also in Particulars,
as is perceivable by human sense and reason; Which is the cause, that
Elements have elemental sense and knowledg, and Animals animal sense
and knowledg, and so of Vegetables, Minerals, and the like. Wherefore
the Sun and Stars may have as much sensitive and rational life and
knowledg as other Creatures, but such as is according to the nature
of their figures, and not animal, or vegetable, or mineral sense and
knowledg. And so leaving them, I rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
XVIII.
_MADAM,_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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