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
Secondly, They will think it absurd that I say, the eye can see without
light; but in my opinion it seems not absurd, but very rational,
for we may see in dreams, and some do see in the dark, not in their
fancy or imagination, but really; and as for dreams, the sensitive
corporeal motions make a light on the inside of the organ of sight
really, as I have declared in my former Letter. But that we do not see
ordinarily without exterior Light, the reason is, that the sensitive
Motions cannot find the outward objects to pattern out without exterior
light, but all perception doth not proceed from light, for all other
perception besides animal sight requires not light. Neither in my
opinion, doth the Perception of sight in all Creatures but Animals, but
yet Animals do often see in the dark, and in sleep: I will not say but
that the animate matter which by self-motion doth make the Perception
of light with other perceptive Figures, and so animal perceptive light
may be the presenter or ground perceptive figure of sight; yet the
sensitive corporeal motions can make other figures without the help of
light, and such as light did never present: But when the eye patterns
out an exterior object presented by light, it patterns also out the
object of light; for the sensitive motions can make many figures
by one act, not onely in several organs, but in one organ; as for
example, there is presented to sight a piece of Imbroydery, wherein
is silk, silver and gold upon Sattin in several forms or figures, as
several flowers, the sensitive motions streight by one and the same
act, pattern out all those several figures of flowers, as also the
figures of Silk, Silver, Gold and Sattin, without any pressure of these
objects, or motions in the medium, for if they all should press, the
eye would no more see the exterior objects, then the nose, being stopt,
could smell a presented perfume.
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