The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical NotesDarwin, Erasmus
Philosophy
The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes
Darwin, Erasmus
Cosmology -- Poetry; Life -- Origin -- Poetry
NOTE I. SPONTANEOUS VITALITY OF MICROSCOPIC ANIMALS.
I. Spontaneous vital production not contrary to scripture; to be
looked for only in the simplest organic beings; supposed want of
analogy no argument against it, as this equally applies to all new
discoveries. II. The power of reproduction distinguishes organic
beings; which are gradually enlarged and improved by it. III.
Microscopic animals produced from all vegetable and animal infusions;
generate others like themselves by solitary reproduction; not produced
from eggs; conferva fontinalis; mucor. IV. Theory of spontaneous
vitality. Animal nutrition; vegetable; some organic particles have
appetencies to unite, others propensities to be united; buds of trees;
sexual reproduction: analogy between generation and nutrition; laws of
elasticity not understood; dead animalcules recover life by heat and
moisture; chaos redivivum; vorticella; shell-snails; eggs and seeds:
hydra. Classes of microscopic animals; general remarks.
NOTE II. FACULTIES OF THE SENSORIUM.
Fibres possess a power of contraction; spirit of animation immediate
cause of their contracting; stimulus of external bodies the remote
cause; stimulus produces irritation; due contraction occasions
pleasure; too much, or too little, pain; sensation produces desire or
aversion, which constitute volition: associated motions; irritation;
sensation; volition; association; sensorium.
NOTE III. VOLCANOES.
Their explosions occasioned by water falling on boiling lava; primeval
earthquakes of great extent; more elastic vapours might raise islands
and continents, or even throw the moon from the earth; stones falling
from the sky; earthquake at, Lisbon; subterraneous fires under this
island.
NOTE IV. MUSQUITO.
The larva lives chiefly in water; it may be driven away by smoke;
gnats; libelulla; aestros bovis; bolts: musca chamaeleon; vomitoria.
NOTE V. AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS.
Diodon has both lungs and gills; some amphibious quadrupeds have the
foramen ovale open; perhaps it may be kept open in dogs by frequent
immersion so as to render them amphibious; pearl divers; distinctions
of amphibious animals; lamprey, leech; remora; whale.
NOTE VI. HIEROGLYPHIC CHARACTERS.
Used by the magi of Egypt to record discoveries in science, and
historical events; astrology an early superstition; universal
characters desirable; Grey's Memoria Technica; Bergeret's Botanical
Nomenclature; Bishop Wilkins's Real Character and Philosophical
Language.
NOTE VII. OLD AGE AND DEATH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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