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
Insensible or Irrational, neither do the erroneous and irregular
actions of sense and reason prove an annihilation of sense and reason;
as for example, a man may become Mad or a Fool through the irregular
motions of sense and reason, and yet have still the Perception of sense
and reason, onely the alteration is caused through the alteration of
the sensitive and rational corporeal motions or actions, from regular
to irregular; nevertheless he has Perceptions, Thoughts, Ideas,
Passions, and whatsoever is made by sensitive and rational Matter,
neither can Perception be divided from Motion, nor Motion from Matter;
for all sensation is Corporeal, and so is Perception. I can add no
more, but take my leave, and rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] _Of the Immortality of the Soul, l._ 1. _c._ 12.
VIII.
_MADAM,_
Your _Author_ is pleased to say,[1] that _Matter is a Principle purely
passive, and no otherwise moved or modified, then as some other thing
moves and modifies it, but cannot move it self at all; which is most
demonstrable to them that contend for sense and perception in it: For
if it had any such perception, it would, by vertue of its self-motion
withdraw its self from under the knocks of hammers, or fury of the
fire; or of its own accord approach to such things as are most
agreeable to it, and pleasing, and that without the help of muscles, it
being thus immediately endowed with a self-moving power._ By his leave,
_Madam_, I must tell you, that I see no consequence in this argument;
Because some parts of matter cannot withdraw themselves from the force
and power of other parts, therefore they have neither sense, reason,
nor perception: For put the case, a man should be over-powr'd by some
other men, truely he would be forced to suffer, and no Immaterial
Spirits, I think, would assist him. The very same may be said of other
Creatures or parts of Nature; for some may over-power others, as the
fire, hammer and hand doth over-power a Horse-shooe, which cannot
prevail over so much odds of power and strength; And so likewise it is
with sickness and health, life and death; for example, some corporeal
motions in the body turning Rebels, by moving contrary to the health
of an animal Creature, it must become sick; for not every particular
creature hath an absolute power, the power being in the Infinite whole,
and not in single divided parts: Indeed, to speak properly, there is
no such thing as an absolute power in Nature; for though Nature hath
power to move it self, yet not beyond it self. But mistake me not, for
I mean by an absolute Power; not a circumscribed and limited, but an
unlimited power, no ways bound or confined, but absolutely or every way
Infinite, and there is not anything that has such an absolute power
but God alone: neither can Nature be undividable, being Corporeal or
Material; nor rest from motion being naturally self-moving, and in a
perpetual motion. Wherefore though Matter is self-moving, and very
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