Butagentleandpeacefulanimalwhichlivesamongotheranimalsofthesamedispositionandofgentlenurture，willbeanenemyofbloodandcarnage；itwillblushinternallyathavingshedblood。Thereisperhapsthisdifference，thatsinceamonganimalseverythingissacrificedtotheirneeds，totheirpleasures，tothenecessitiesoflife，whichtheyenjoymorethanwe，theirremorseapparentlyshouldnotbeaskeenasours，becausewearenotinthesamestateofnecessityasthey。Customperhapsdullsandperhapsstiflesremorseaswellaspleasures。

ButIwillforamomentsupposethatIamutterlymistakeninconcludingthatalmostalltheworldholdsawrongopiniononthissubject，whileIaloneamright。Iwillgrantthatanimals，eventhebestofthem，donotknowthedifferencebetweenmoralgoodandevil，thattheyhavenorecollectionofthetroubletakenforthem，ofthekindnessdonethem，norealizationoftheirownvirtues。[Iwillsuppose]，forinstance，thatthislion，towhichI，likesomanyothers，havereferred，doesnotrememberatallthatitrefusedtokilltheman，abandonedtoitsfury，inacombatmoreinhumanthanonecouldfindamonglions，tigersandbears，puttogether。Forourcompatriotsfight，SwissagainstSwiss，brotheragainstbrother，recognizeeachother，andyetcaptureandkilleachotherwithoutremorse，becauseaprincepaysforthemurder。

Isupposeinshotthatthenaturallawhasnotbeengiventoanimals。Whatwillbetheconsequencesofthissupposition？Manisnotmouldedfromacostlierclay；naturehasusedbutonedough，andhasmerelyvariedtheleaven。ThereforeifanimalsdonotrepentforhavingviolatedthisinmostfeelingwhichI

amdiscussing，orratheriftheyabsolutelylackit，manmustnecessarilybeinthesamecondition。Farewellthentothenaturallawandallthefinetreatisespublishedaboutit！Thewholeanimalkingdomingeneralwouldbedeprivedofit。But，conversely，ifmancannotdispensewiththebeliefthatwhenhealthpermitshimtobehimself，healwaysdistinguishestheupright，humane，andvirtuous，fromthosewhoarenothuman，virtuous，norhonorable：

thatitiseasytotellvicefromvirtue，bytheuniquepleasureandthepeculiarrepugnancethatseemstobetheirnaturaleffects，itfollowsthatanimals，composedofthesamematter，lackingperhapsonlyonedegreeoffermentationtomakeitexactlylikeman’s，mustsharethesameprerogativesofanimalnature，andthatthusthereexistsnosoulorsensitivesubstancewithoutremorse。Thefollowingconsiderationswillreinforcetheseobservations。

Itisimpossibletodestroythenaturallaw。Theimpressofitonallanimalsissostrong，thatIhavenodoubtthatthewildestandmostsavagehavesomemomentsofrepentance。IbelievethatthatcruelmaidofChalonsinChampagnemusthavesorrowedforhercrime，ifshereallyatehersister。Ithinkthatthesamthingistrueofallthosewhocommitcrimes，eveninvoluntaryortemperamentalcrimes：trueofGastonofOrleanswhocouldnothelpstealing；ofacertainwomanwhowassubjecttothesamecrimewhenpregnant，andwhosechildreninheritedit；ofthewomanwho，inthesamecondition，ateherhusband；ofthatotherwomenwhokilledherchildren，saltedtheirbodies，andateapieceofthemeveryday，asalittlerelish；ofthatdaughterofathiefandcannibalwhoattwelveyearsfollowedinhissteps，althoughshehadbeenorphanedwhenshewasayearold，andhadbeenbroughtupbyhonestpeople；tosaynothingofmanyotherexamplesofwhichtherecordsofourobserversarefull，allofthemprovingthatthereareathousandhereditaryvicesandvirtueswhicharetransmittedfromparentstochildrenasthoseofthefostermotherpasstothechildrenshenurses。Now，Ibelieveandadmitthatthesewretchesdonotforthemostpartfeelatthetimetheenormityoftheiractions。Bulimia，orcaninehunger，forexample，canstifleallfeeling；itisamaniaofthestomachthatoneiscompelledtosatisfy，butwhatremorsemustbeinstoreforthosewomen，whenthecometothemselvesandgrowsober，andrememberthecrimestheyhavecommittedagainstthosetheyheldmostdear！Whatapunishmentforaninvoluntarycrimewhichtheycouldnotresist，ofwhichtheyhadnoconsciousnesswhatever！However，thisisapparentlynotenoughforthejudges。Forofthesewomen，ofwhomItell，onewascruellybeatenandburned，andanotherwasburiedalive。Irealizethatallthisisdemandedbytheinterestofsociety。Butdoubtlessitismuchtobewishedthatexcellentphysiciansmightbetheonlyjudges。Theyalonecouldtelltheinnocentcriminalfromtheguilty。

Ifreasonistheslaveofadepravedormaddesire，howcanitcontrolthedesire？

Butifcrimecarrieswithititsownmoreorlesscruelpunishment，ifthemostcontinuedandmostbarbaroushabitcannotentirelyblotoutrepentanceinthecruelesthearts，ifcriminalsarelaceratedbytheverymemoryoftheirdeeds，whyshouldwefrightentheimaginationofweakminds，byahell，byspecters，andbyprecipicesoffireevenlessrealthanthoseofPascal？Whymustwehaverecoursetofables，asanhonestpopeoncesaidhimself，totormenteventheunhappywretcheswhoareexecuted，becausewedonotthinkthattheyaresufficientlypunishedbytheirownconscience，theirfirstexecutioner？Idonotmeantosaythatallcriminalsareunjustlypunished；Ionlymaintainthatthosewhosewillisdepraved，andwhoseconscienceisextinguished，arepunishedenoughbytheirremorsewhentheycometothemselves，aremorse，Iventuretoassert，fromwhichnatureshouldinthiscasehavedeliveredunhappysoulsdraggedonbyafatalnecessity。

Criminals，scoundrels，ingrates，thoseinshortwithoutnaturalfeelings，unhappytyrantswhoareunworthyoflife，invaintakeacruelpleasureintheirbarbarity，fortherearecalmmomentsofreflectioninwhichtheavengingconsciencearises，testifiesagainstthem，andcondemnsthemtobealmostceaselesslytorntopiecesattheirownhands。Whoevertormentsmenistormentedbyhimself；andthesufferingsthathewillexperiencewillbethejustmeasureofthosethathehasinflicted。

Ontheotherhand，thereissomuchpleasureindoinggood，inrecognizingandappreciatingwhatonereceives，somuchsatisfactioninpractisingvirtue，inbeinggentle，humane，kind，charitable，compassionateandgenerous（forthisonewordincludesallthevirtues），thatIconsiderassufficientlypunishedanyonewhoisunfortunateenoughnottohavebeenbornvirtuous。

Wewerenotoriginallymadetobelearned；wehavebecomesoperhapsbyasortofabuseofourorganicfaculties，andattheexpenseoftheStatewhichnourishesahostofsluggardswhomvanityhasadornedwiththenameofphilosophers。Naturehascreatedusallsolelytobehappy-yes，allofusfromthecrawlingwormtotheeaglelostintheclouds。Forthiscauseshehasgivenallanimalssomeshareofnaturallaw，asharegreaterorlessaccordingtotheneedsofeachanimal’sorganswheninnormalcondition。

Nowhowshallwedefinenaturallaw？Itisafeelingthatteachesuswhatweshouldnotdo，becausewewouldnotwishittobedonetous。ShouldIdareaddtothiscommonidea，thatthisfeelingseemstomebutakindoffearordread，assalutarytotheraceastotheindividual；formayitnotbetruethatwerespectthepurseandlifeofothers，onlytosaveourownpossessions，ourhonor，andourselves；likethoseIxionsofChristianitywholoveGodandembracesomanyfantasticvirtues，merelybecausetheyareafraidofhell！

Youseethatnaturallawisbutanintimatefeelingthat，likeallotherfeelings（thoughtincluded）belongsalsotoimagination。

Evidently，therefore，naturallawdoesnotpresupposeeducation，revelation，norlegislator，-providedonedoesnotproposetoconfusenaturallawwithcivillaws，intheridiculousfashionofthetheologians。

Thearmsoffanaticismmaydestroythosewhosupportthesetruths，buttheywillneverdestroythetruthsthemselves。

Idonotmeantocallinquestiontheexistenceofasupremebeing；

onthecontraryitseemstomethatthegreatestdegreeofprobabilityisinfavorofthisbelief。Butsincetheexistenceofthisbeinggoesnofurtherthanthatofanyothertowardprovingtheneedofworship，itisatheoretictruthwithverylittlepracticalvalue。Therefore，sincewemaysay，aftersuchlongexperience，thatreligiondoesnotimplyexacthonesty，weareauthorizedbythesamereasonstothinkthatatheismdoesnotexcludeit。

Furthermore，whocanbesurethatthereasonforman’sexistenceisnotsimplythefactthatheexists？Perhapshewasthrownbychanceonsomespotontheearth’ssurface，nobodyknowshownorwhy，butsimplythathemustliveanddie，likethemushroomswhichappearfromdaytoday，orlikethoseflowerswhichbordertheditchesandcoverthewalls。

Letusnotloseourselvesintheinfinite，forwearenotmadetohavetheleastideathereof，andareabsolutelyunabletogetbacktotheoriginofthings。Besidesitdoesnotmatterforourpeaceofmind，whethermatterbeeternalorhavebeencreated，whethertherebeorbenotaGod。Howfoolishtotormentourselvessomuchaboutthingswhichwecannotknow，andwhichwouldnotmakeusanyhappierevenwerewetogainknowledgeaboutthem！

But，somewillsay，readallsuchworksasthoseofF&eacute；nelon，ofNieuwentyt，ofAbadie，ofBerham，ofRais，andtherest。Well！

whatwilltheyteachmeorratherwhathavetheytaughtme？Theyareonlytiresomerepetitionsofzealouswriters，oneofwhomaddstotheotheronlyverbiage，morelikelytostrengthenthantounderminethefoundationsofatheism。Thenumberofevidencesdrawnfromthespectacleofnaturedoesnotgivetheseevidencesanymoreforce。Eitherthemerestructureofafinger，ofanear，ofaneye，asingleobservationofMalpighiprovesall，anddoubtlessmuchbetterthanDescartesandMalebrancheprovedit，oralltheotherevidencesprovenothing。Deists，andevenChristians，shouldthereforebecontenttopointoutthatthroughouttheanimalkingdomthesameaimsarepursuedandaccomplishedbyaninfinitenumberofdifferentmechanisms，allofthemhoweverexactlygeometrical。Forwhatstrongerweaponscouldtherebewithwhichtooverthrowatheists？Itistruethatifmyreasondoesnotdeceiveme，manandthewholeuniverseseemtohavebeendesignedforthisunityofaim。Thesun，air，water，theorganism，theshapeofbodies，-everythingisbroughttoafocusintheeyeasinamirrorthatfaithfullypresentstotheimaginationalltheobjectsreflectedinit，inaccordancewiththelawsrequiredbytheinfinitevarietyofbodieswhichtakepartinvision。Inearswefindeverywhereastrikingvariety，andyetthedifferenceofstructureinmen，animals，birds，andfishes，doesnotproducedifferentuses。Allearsaresomathematicallymade，thattheytendequallytooneandthesameend，namelyhearing。ButwouldChance，thedeistasks，beagreatenoughgeometriciantovarythus，atpleasure，theworksofwhichsheissupposedtobetheauthor，withoutbeinghinderedbysogreatadiversityfromgainingthesameend？

Again，thedeistwillbringforwardasadifficultythosepartsoftheanimalthatareclearlycontainedinitforfutureuse，thebutterflyinthecaterpillar，maninthesperm，awholepolypineachofitsparts，thevalvuleintheovalorifice，thelungsinthefoetus，theteethintheirsockets，thebonesinthefluidfromwhichtheydetachthemselvesand（inanincomprehensiblemanner）

harden。Andsincethepartisansofthistheory，farfromneglectinganythingthatwouldstrengthenproof，nevertireofpilingupproofuponproof，theyarewillingtoavailthemselvesofeverything，evenoftheweaknessofthemindincertaincases。Look，theysay，atmenlikeSpinoza，Vanini，Desbarreau，andBoindin，apostleswhohonordeismmorethantheyharmit。Thedurationoftheirhealthwasthemeasureoftheirunbelief，andonerarelyfails，theyadd，torenounceatheismwhenthepassions，withtheirinstrument，thebody，havegrownweak。

ThatiscertainlythemostthatcanbesaidinfavoroftheexistenceofGod：althoughthelastargumentisfrivolousinthattheseconversionsareshort，andthemindalmostalwaysregainsitsformeropinionsandactsaccordingly，assoonasithasregainedorratherrediscovereditsstrengthinthatofthebody。Thatis，atleast，muchmorethanwassaidbythephysicianDiderot，inhisPens&eacute；esPhilosophiques，asublimeworkthatwillnotconvinceasingleatheist。Whatreplycan，intruth，bemadetoamanwhosays，``Wedonotknownature；causeshiddeninherbreastmighthaveproducedeverything。Inyourturn，observethepolypofTrembley：doesitnotcontaininitselfthecauseswhichbringaboutregeneration？Whythenwoulditbeabsurdtothinkthattherearephysicalcausesbyreasonofwhicheverythinghasbeenmade，andtowhichthewholechainofthisvastuniverseissonecessarilyboundandheldthatnothingwhichhappens，couldhavefailedtohappen，-causes，ofwhichwearesoinvinciblyignorantthatwehavehadrecoursetoaGod，who，assomeaver，isnotsomuchasalogicalentity？Thustodestroychanceisnottoprovetheexistenceofasupremebeing，sincetheremaybesomeotherthingwhichisneitherchancenorGod-

Imean，nature。Itfollowsthatthestudyofnaturecanonlymakeunbelievers；

andthewayofthinkingofallitsmoresuccessfulinvestigatorsprovesthis。’’

Theweightoftheuniversethereforefarfromcrushingarealatheistdoesnotevenshakehim。Alltheseevidencesofacreator，repeatedthousandsandthousandsoftimes，evidencethatareplacedfarabovethecomprehensionofmenlikeus，areself-evident（howeverfaronepushtheargument）onlytotheanti-Pyrrhonians，ortothosewhohaveenoughconfidenceintheirreasontopbelievethemselvescapableofjudgingonthebasisofcertainphenomena，againstwhich，asyousee，theatheistcanurgeothersperhapsequallystrongandabsolutelyopposed。Forifwelistentothenaturalistsagain，theywilltellusthattheverycauseswhich，inachemist’shands，byachancecombination，madethefirstmirror，inthehandsofnaturemadethepurewater，themirrorofthesimpleshepherdess；thatthemotionwhichkeepstheworldgoingcouldhavecreatedit，thateachbodyhastakentheplaceassignedtoitbyitsownnature，thattheairmusthavesurroundedtheearth，andthatironandtheothermetalsareproducedbytheinternalmotionsoftheearth，foroneandthesamereason；thatthesunisasmuchanaturalproductaselectricity，thatitwasnotmadetowarmtheearthanditsinhabitants，whomitsometimesburns，anymorethantherainwasmadetomaketheseedsgrow，whichitoftenspoils；thatthemirrorandthewaterwerenomoremadeforpeopletoseethemselvesin，thanwereallotherpolishedbodieswiththissameproperty；

thattheeyeisintruthakindofglassinwhichthesoulcancontemplatetheimageofobjectsastheyarepresentedtoitbythesebodies，butthatitisnotprovedthatthisorganwasreallymadeexpresslyforthiscontemplation，norpurposelyplacedinitssocket，andinshortitmaywellbethatLucretius，thephysicianLamy，andallEpicureansbothancientandmodernwererightwhentheysuggestedthattheeyeseesonlybecauseitisformedandplacedasitis，andthat，givenonceforall，thesamerulesofmotionfollowedbynatureinthegenerationanddevelopmentofbodies，thismarvelousorgancouldnothavebeenformedandplaceddifferently。

Suchistheproandthecon，andthesummaryofthosefineargumentsthatwilleternallydividethephilosophers。Idonottakeeitherside。

``Nonnostrumintervostantascompenerelites。’’

ThisiswhatIsaidtooneofmyfriends，aFrenchman，asfrankaPyrrhonianasI，amanofmuchmerit，andworthyofabetterfate。Hegavemeaverysingularanswerinregardtothematter。``Itistrue，’’hetoldme，``thattheproandconshouldnotdisturbatallthesoulofaphilosopher，whoseesthatnothingisprovedwithclearnessenoughtoforcehisconsent，andthattheargumentsofferedononesideareneutralizedbythoseoftheother。

However，’’hecontinued，``theuniversewillneverbehappy，unlessitisatheistic。’’Herearethiswretch’sreasons。Ifatheism，saidhe，weregenerallyaccepted，alltheformsofreligionwouldthenbedestroyedandcutoffattheroots。Nomoretheologicalwars，nomoresoldiersofreligion-suchterriblesoldiers！Natureinfectedwithasacredpoison，wouldregainitsrightsanditspurity。Deaftoallothervoices，tranquilmortalswouldfollowonthespontaneousdictatesoftheirownbeing，theonlycommandswhichcanneverbedespisedwithimpunityandwhichalonecanleadustohappinessthroughthepleasantpathsofvirtue。

Suchisnaturallaw：whoeverrigidlyobservesitisagoodmananddeservestheconfidenceofallthehumanrace。Whoeverfailstofollowitscrupulouslyaffects，invain，thespeciousexteriorofanotherreligion；heisascamporahypocritewhomIdistrust。

Afterthis，letavainpeoplethinkotherwise，letthemdareaffirmthatevenprobityisatstakeinnotbelievinginrevelation，inawordthatanotherreligionthanthatofnatureisnecessary，whateveritmaybe。Suchanassertioniswretchedandpitiable；andsoisthegoodopinionwhicheachonegivesusofthereligionhehasembraced！Wedonotseekherethevotesofthecrowd。

Whoeverraisesinhisheartaltarstosuperstition，isboundtoworshipidolsandnottothrilltovirtue。

Butsinceallthefacultiesofthesouldependtosuchadegreeontheproperorganizationofthebrainandofthewholebody，thatapparentlytheyarebutthisorganizationitself，thesoulisclearlyanenlightenedmachine。Forfinally，evenifmanalonehadreceivedashareofnaturallaw，wouldhebeanylessamachineforthat？Afewmorewheels，afewmorespringsthaninthemostperfectanimals，thebrainproportionallynearertheheartandforthisveryreasonreceivingmoreblood-anyoneofanumberofunknowncausesmightalwaysproducethisdelicateconsciencesoeasilywounded，thisremorsewhichisnomoreforeigntomatterthantothought，andinawordallthedifferencesthataresupposedtoexisthere。Couldtheorganismthensufficeforeverything？Oncemore，yes；sincethoughtvisiblydevelopswithourorgans，whyshouldnotthematterofwhichtheyarecomposedbesusceptibleofremorsealso，whenonceithasacquired，withtime，thefacultyoffeeling？

Thesoulisthereforebutanemptyword，ofwhichnoonehasanyidea，andwhichanenlightenedmanshouldonlyusetosignifythepartinusthatthinks。Giventheleastprincipleofmotion，animatedbodieswillhaveallthatisnecessaryformoving，feeling，thinking，repenting，orinawordforconductingthemselvesinthephysicalrealm，andinthemoralrealmwhichdependsuponit。

Yetwetakenothingforgranted；thosewhoperhapsthinkthatallthedifficultieshavenotyetbeenremovedshallnowreadofexperimentsthatwillcompletelysatisfythem。

1。Thefleshofallanimalspalpitatesafterdeath。Thispalpitationcontinueslonger，themorecoldbloodedtheanimalisandthelessitperspires。Tortoises，lizards，serpents，etc。areevidenceofthis。

2。Musclesseparatedfromthebodycontractwhentheyarestimulated。

3。Theintestineskeepuptheirperistalticorvermicularmotionforalongtime。

4。AccordingtoCowper，asimpleinjectionofhotwaterreanimatestheheartandthemuscles。

5。Afrog’sheartmovesforanhourormoreafterithasbeenremovedfromthebody，especiallywhenexposedtothesunorbetterstillwhenplacedonahottableorchair。Ifthismovementseemtotallylost，onehasonlytostimulatetheheart，andthathollowmusclebeatsagain。Harveymadethissameobservationontoads。

6。BaconofVerulaminhistreatiseSylvaSylvarumcitesthecaseofamanconvictedoftreason，whowasopenedalive，andwhoseheartthrownintohotwaterleapedseveraltimes，eachtimelesshigh，totheperpendicularheightoftwofeet。

7。Takeatinychickenstillintheegg，cutouttheheartandyouwillobservethesamephenomenaasbefore，underalmostthesameconditions。Thewarmthofthebreathalonereanimatesananimalabouttoperishintheairpump。

Thesameexperiments，whichweowetoBoyleandtoStenon，aremadeonpigeons，dogs，andrabbits。Piecesoftheirheartsbeatastheirwholeheartswould。Thesamemovementscanbeseeninpawsthathavebeencutofffrommoles。

8。Thecaterpillar，theworm，thespider，thefly，theeel-allexhibitthesamephenomena；andinhotwater，becauseofthefireitcontains，themovementofthedetachedpartsincreases。

9。AdrunkensoldiercutoffwithonestrokeofhissabreanIndianrooster’shead。Theanimalremainedstanding，thenwalked，andran：happeningtorunagainstawall，itturnedaround，beatsitswingsstillrunning，andfinallyfelldown。Asitlayontheground，allthemusclesofthisroosterkeptonmoving。ThatiswhatIsawmyself，andalmostthesamephenomenacaneasilybeobservedinkittensorpuppieswiththeirheadscutoff。

10。Polypsdomorethanmoveaftertheyhavebeencutinpieces。

Inaweektheyregeneratetoformasmanyanimalsastherearepieces。Iamsorrythatthesefactsspeakagainstthenaturalists’systemofgeneration；orratherIamverygladofit，forletthisdiscoveryteachusnevertoreachageneralconclusionevenonthegroundofallknown（andmostdecisive）experiments。

Herewehavemanymorefactsthanareneededtoprove，inanincontestableway，thateachtinyfiberorpartofanorganizedbodymovesbyaprinciplewhichbelongstoit。Itsactivity，unlikevoluntarymotions，doesnotdependinanywayonthenerves，sincethemovementsinquestionoccurinpartsofthebodywhichhavenoconnectionwiththecirculation。Butifthisforceismanifestedeveninsectionsoffiberstheheart，whichisacompositeofpeculiarlyconnectedfibers，mustpossessthesameproperty。IdidnotneedBacon’sstorytopersuademeofthis。Itwaseasyformetocometothisconclusion，bothfromtheperfectanalogyofthestructureofthehumanheartwiththatofanimals，andalsofromtheverybulkofthehumanheart，inwhichthismovementescapesoureyesonlybecauseitissmothered，andfinallybecauseincorpsesalltheorgansarecoldandlifeless。Ifexecutedcriminalsweredissectedwhiletheirbodiesarestillwarm，weshouldprobablyseeintheirheartsthesamemovementsthatareobservedintheface-musclesofthosethathavebeenbeheaded。

Themotiveprincipleofthewholebody，andevenofitspartscutinpieces，issuchthatitproducesnotirregularmovements，assomehavethought，butveryregularones，inwarmbloodedandperfectanimalsaswellasincoldandimperfectones。Noresourcethereforeremainsopentoouradversariesbuttodenythousandsandthousandsoffactswhicheverymancaneasilyverify。

Ifnowanyoneaskmewhereisthisinnateforceinourbodies，Ianswerthatitveryclearlyresidesinwhattheancientscalledtheparenchyma，thatistosay，intheverysubstanceoftheorgansnotincludingtheveins，thearteries，thenerves，inaword，thatitresidesintheorganizationofthewholebody，andthatconsequentlyeachorgancontainswithinitselfforcesmoreorlessactiveaccordingtotheneedofthem。

Letusnowgointosomedetailconcerningthesespringsofthehumanmachine。Allthevital，animal，natural，andautomaticmotionsarecarriedonbytheiraction。Isitnotinapurelymechanicalwaythatthebodyshrinksbackwhenitisstruckwithterroratthesightofanunforeseenprecipice，thattheeyelidsareloweredatthemenaceofablow，assomehaveremarked，andthatthepupilcontractsinbroaddaylighttosavetheretina，anddilatestoseeobjectsindarkness？Isitnotbymechanicalmeansthattheporesoftheskincloseinwintersothatthecoldcannotpenetratetotheinteriorofthebloodvessels，andthatthestomachvomitswhenitisirritatedbypoison，byacertainquantityofopiumandbyallemetics，etc。？thattheheart，thearteriesandthemusclescontractinsleepaswellasinwakinghours，thatthelungsserveasbellowscontinuallyinexercise，n’est-cepasmachinalementqu’agissenttouslessphinctersdelavessie，durectum，etc。？thattheheartcontractsmorestronglythananyothermuscle？quelesmuscles&eacute；recteursfontdresserlavergedansl’homme，commedanslesanimauxquis’enbattentleventre，etm&ecirc；medansl’enfant，capabled’&eacute；rection，pourpeuquecettepartiesoitirrit&eacute；e？Cequiprouve，pourledireenpassant，qu’ilestunressortsingulierdanscemembre，encorepeuconnu，etquiproduitdeseffetsqu’onn’apointencourebienexpliqu&eacute；s，malgr&eacute；

toutesleslumi&egrave；resdel’anatomie。

Ishallnotgointoanymoredetailconcerningalltheselittlesubordinateforces，wellknowntoall。Butthereisanothermoresubtleandmarvelousforce，whichanimatesthemall；itisthesourceofallourfeelings，ofallourpleasures，ofallourpassions，andofallourthoughts：forthebrainhasitsmusclesforthinking，asthelegshavemusclesforwalking。IwishtospeakofthisimpetuousprinciplethatHippocratescallsenormon（soul）。Thisprincipleexistsandhasitsseatinthebrainattheoriginofthenerves，bywhichitexercisesitscontroloveralltherestofthebody。Bythisfactisexplainedallthatcanbeexplained，eventothesurprisingeffectofmaladiesoftheimagination。

Mais，pournepaslanguirdansunerichesseetunf&eacute；condit&eacute；

malentendue，ilfautseborner&agrave；unpetitnombredequestionsetder&eacute；flexions。

Pourquoilavueoulasimpleid&eacute；ed’unebellefemmenouscause-t-elledesmouvementsetdesd&eacute；sirssinguliers？Cequisepassealorsdanscertainsorganes，vient-ildelanaturem&ecirc；medecesorganes？Pointdutoutlmaisducommerceetdel’esp&egrave；cedesympathiedecesmusclesavecl’imagination。

Iln’yaiciqu’unpremierressortexcit&eacute；parlebeneplacitumdesanciens，ouparl’imagedelabeaut&eacute；，quienexciteunautre，lequel&eacute；taitfortassoupi，quandl’imaginationl’a&eacute；veill&eacute；：etcommentcela，sicen’estparled&eacute；sordreetletumultedusangetdesesprits，quigalopentavecunepromptitudeextraordinaire，etvontgonflerlescorpscaverneux？

Puisqu’ilestdescommincations&eacute；videntsentrelam&egrave；reetl’enfant，etqu’ilestdurdenierdesfairrapport&eacute；sparTulpiusetpard’autres&eacute；crivainsaussidignesdefoi（iln’yenapointquilesoientplus），nouscroironsquec’estparlam&ecirc；mevoiequelefoetusressentl’imp&eacute；tuoisit&eacute；

del’imaginationmaternelle，commeuneciremollere&amp；ccedile；oittoutessortesd’impressions；etquelesm&ecirc；mestraces，ouenviesdelam&egrave；re，peuvents’imprimersurlefoetus，sansquecelapuissesecomprendre，quoiqu’endisentBlondelettoussesadh&eacute；renets。

Ainsinousfaisonsr&eacute；parationd’honneurauP。Malebranche，beaucouptropraill&eacute；desacr&eacute；dulit&eacute；

parlesauteursquin’ontpointobserv&eacute；d’assexpr&egrave；slanatureetontvoulul’assujettir&agrave；leurid&eacute；es。

LookattheportraitofthefamousPopewhois，tosaytheleast，theVoltaireoftheEnglish。Theeffort，theenergyofhisgeniusareimprinteduponhiscountenance。Itisconvulsed。Hiseyesprotrudefromtheirsockets，theeyebrowsareraisedwiththemusclesoftheforehead。Why？Becausethebrainisintravailandallthebodymustshareinsuchalaboriousdeliverance。Iftherewerenotaninternalcordwhichpulledtheexternalones，whencewouldcomeallthesephenomena？Toadmitasoulasexplanationofthem，istobereducedto[explainingphenomenaby]

theoperationsoftheHolySpirit。

Infact，ifwhatthinksinmybrainisnotapartofthisorganandthereforeofthewholebody，whydoesmybloodboil，andthefeverofmymindpassintomyveins，whenlyingquietlyinbed，Iamformingtheplanofsomeworkorcarryingonanabstractcalculation？Putthisquestiontomenofimagination，togreatpoets，tomenwhoareenrapturedbythefelicitousexpressionofsentiment，andtransportedbyanexquisitefancyorbythecharmsofnature，oftruth，orofvirtue！Bytheirenthusiasm，bywhattheywilltellyoutheyhaveexperienced，youwilljudgethecausebyitseffects；bythatharmonywhichBorelli，amereanatomist，understoodbetterthanalltheLeibnizians，youwillcomprehendthematerialunityofman。Inshort，ifthenerve-tensionwhichcausespainoccasionsalsothefeverbywhichthedistractedmindloosesitswill-power，andif，conversely，themindtoomuchexcited，disturbsthebody（andkindlesthatinnerfirewhichkilledBaylewhilehewasstillsoyoung）lifanagitationrousesmydesireandmyardentwishforwhat，amomentago，Icarednothingabout，andifintheirturncertainbrainimpressionsexcitethesamelongingandthesamedesires，thenwhyshouldweregardasdoublewhatismanifestlyonebeing？

Invainyoufallbackonthepowerofthewill，sinceforoneorderthatthewillgives，itbowsahundredtimestotheyoke，Andwhatwonderthatinhealththebodyobeys，sinceatorrentofbloodandofanimalspiritsforcesitsobedience，andsincethewillhasasministersaninvisiblelegionoffluidsswifterthanlightningandeverreadytodoitsbidding！Butasthepowerofthewillisexercisedbymeansofthenerves，itislikewiselimitedbythem。Lameilleurevolont&eacute；d’unamant&eacute；puis&eacute；，lesplusviolentdesiresluirendront-ilssavigueurperdue？H&eacute；las！non；etelleenseralapremi&egrave；repunie，parce-que，pos&eacute；escertainescirconstances，iln’estpasdanssapuissancedenepasvouloirduplaisir。Cequej’aiditdelaparalysie，etc。revientici。

Doestheresultofjaundicesurpriseyou？Doyounotknowthatthecolorofbodiesdependsonthecoloroftheglassesthroughwhichwelookatthem，andthatwhateveristhecolorofthehumors，suchisthecolorofobjects，atleastforus，vainplaythingsofathousandillusions？Butremovethiscolorfromtheaqueoushumoroftheeye，letthebileflowthroughitsnaturalfilter，thenthesoulhavingneweyes，willnolongerseeyellow。Again，。isitnotthus，byremovingcataract，orbyinjectingtheEustachiancanal，thatsightisrestoredtotheblind，orhearingtothedeaf？

Howmanypeople，whowereperhapsonlyclevercharlatans，passedformiracleworkersinthedarkages！Beautifulthesoul，andpowerfulthewillwhichcannotactsavebypermissionofthebodilyconditions，andwhosetasteschangewithageandfever！

Shouldwe，then，beastonishedthatphilosophershavealwayshadinmindthehealthofthebody，topreservethehealthofthesoul，thatPythagorasgaverulesforthedietascarefullyasPlatoforbadewine？Theregimesuitedtothebodyisalwaystheonewithwhichsanephysiciansthinktheymustbegin，whenitisaquestionofformingthemind，andofinstructingitintheknowledgeoftruthandvirtue；butthesearevainwordsinthedisorderofillness，andinthetumultofthesenses。Withoutthepreceptsofhygiene，Epictetus，Socrates，Plato，andtherestpreachinvain：allethicsisfruitlessforonewholackshisshareoftemperance；itisthesourceofallvirtues，asintemperanceisthesourceofallvices。

Ismoreneeded，（forwhylosemyselfindiscussionofthepassionswhichareallexplainedbytheterm，enormon，ofHippocrates）toprovethatmanisbutananimal，oracollectionofspringswhichwindeachotherup，withoutorbeingabletotellatwhatpointinthishumancircle，naturehasbegun？Ifthesespringsdifferamongthemselves，thesedifferencesconsistonlyintheirpositionandintheirdegreesofstrength，andneverintheirnature；whereforethesoulisbutaprincipleofmotionoramaterialandsensiblepartofthebrain，whichcanberegarded，withoutfearoferror，asthemainspringofthewholemachine，havingavisibleinfluenceonalltheparts。Thesoulseemseventohavebeenmadeforthebrain，sothatallotherpartsofthesystemarebutakindofemanationfromthebrain。Thiswillappearfromcertainobservations，madeondifferentembryos，whichIshallnowenumerate。

Thisoscillation，whichisnaturalorsuitedtoourmachine，andwithwhicheachfibreandeveneachfibrouselement，sotospeak，seemstobeendowed，likethatofapendulum，cannotkeepupforever。Itmustberenewed，asitlosesstrength，invigoratedwhenitistired，andweakenedwhenitisdisturbedbyanexcessofstrengthandvigor。Inthisalone，truemedicineconsists。

Thebodyisbutawatch，whosewatchmakeristhenewchyle。Nature’sfirstcare，whenthechyleenterstheblood，istoexciteinitakindoffeverwhichthechemists，whodreamonlyofretorts，musthavetakenforfermentation。Thisfeverproducesagreaterfiltrationofspirits，whichmechanicallyanimatethemusclesandtheheart，asiftheyhadbeensenttherebyorderofthewill。

Thesethenarethecausesorforcesoflifewhichthussustainforahundredyearsthatperpetualmovementofthesolidsandliquidswhichisasnecessarytothefirstastothesecond。Butwhocansaywhetherthesolidscontributemorethanthefluidstothismovementorviceversa？Allthatweknowisthattheactionoftheformerwouldsoonceasewithoutthehelpofthelatter，thatis，withoutthehelpofthefluidswhichbytheironsetrouseandmaintaintheelasticityofthebloodvesselsonwhichtheirowncirculationdepends。Fromthisitfollowsthatafterdeaththenaturalresilienceofeachsubstanceisstillmoreorlessstrongaccordingtotheremnantsoflifewhichitoutlives，beingthelasttoperish。Sotrueisitthatthisforceoftheanimalpartscanbepreservedandstrengthenedbythatofthecirculation，butthatitdoesnotdependonthestrengthofthecirculation，since，aswehaveseen，itcandispensewitheventheintegrityofeachmemberororgan。

Iamawarethatthisopinionhasnotbeenrelishedbyallscholars，andthatStahlespeciallyhadmuchscornforit。Thisgreatchemisthadwishedtopersuadeusthatthesoulisthesolecauseofallourmovements。Butthisistospeakasafanaticandnotasaphilosopher。

TodestroythehypothesisofStahl，weneednotmakeasgreataneffortasIfindthatothershavedonebeforeme。Weneedonlyglanceataviolinist。Whatflexibility，whatlightnessinhisfingers！Themovementsaresoquick，thatitseemsalmostasiftherewerenosuccession。ButIpray，orratherIchallenge，thefollowersofStahlwhounderstandsoperfectlyallthatoursoulcando，totellmehowitcouldpossiblyexecutesomanymotionssoquickly，motions，moreover，whichtakeplacesofarfromthesoul，andinsomanydifferentplaces。Thatistosupposethatafluteplayercouldplaybrilliantcadencesonaninfinitenumberofholesthathecouldnotknow，andonwhichhecouldnotevenputhisfinger！

ButletussaywithM。HecquetthatallmenmaynotgotoCorinth。WhyshouldnotStahlhavebeenevenmorefavoredbynatureasamanthanasachemistandapractioner？Happymortal，hemusthavereceivedasouldifferentfromtherestofmankind，——-asovereignsoul，which，notcontentwithhavingsomecontroloverthevoluntarymuscles，easilyheldthereinsofallthemovementsofthebody，andcouldsuspendthem，calmthem，orexcitethematitspleasure！Withsodespoticamistress，inwhosehandswere，inasense，thebeatingoftheheart，andthelawsofcirculation，therecouldcertainlybenofever，nopain，noweariness，nihonteuseimpuissance，nifacheuxpriapisme！Thesoulwills，andthespringsplay，contractorrelax。ButhowdidthespringsofStahl’smachinegetoutofordersosoon？Hewhohasinhimselfsogreatadoctor，shouldbeimmortal。

Moreover，Stahlisnottheonlyonewhohasrejectedtheprincipleofthevibrationoforganicbodies。Greatermindshavenotusedtheprinciplewhentheywishedtoexplaintheactionsoftheheart，l’&eacute；rectiondupenis，etc。OneneedonlyreadtheInstitutionsofMedicinebyBoerhaavetoseewhatlaboriousandenticingsystemsthisgreatmanwasobligedtoinvent，bythelaborofhismightygenius，throughfailuretoadmitthatthereissowonderfulaforceinallbodies。

WillisandPerrault，mindsofamorefeeblestamp，butcarefulobserversofnature（whereasnaturewasknowntothefamousLeydenprofessoronlythroughothersandsecondhand，sotospeak）

seemtohavepreferredtosupposeasoulgenerallyextendedoverthewholebody，insteadoftheprinciplewhichwearedescribing。Butaccordingtothishypothesis（whichwasthehypothesisofVergilandofallEpicureans，anhypothesiswhichthehistoryofthepolypmightseematfirstsighttofavor）themovementswhichgoonafterthedeathofthesubjectinwhichtheyinhereareduetoaremnantofsoulstillmaintainedbythepartsthatcontract，though，fromthemomentofdeath，thesearenotexcitedbythebloodandspirits。Whenceitmaybeseenthatthesewriters，whosesolidworkseasilyeclipseallphilosophicfables，aredeceivedonlyinthemannerofthosewhohaveendowedmatterwiththefacultyofthinking。Imeantosay，byhavingexpressedthemselvesbadlyinobscureandmeaninglessterms。Intruth，whatisthisremnantofasoul，ifitisnotthe``movingforce’’oftheLeibnizians（badlyrenderedbysuchanexpression），whichhoweverPerraultinparticularhasreallyforeseen。

SeehisTreatiseontheMechanismofAnimals。

NowthatitisclearlyprovedagainsttheCartesians，thefollowersofStahl，theMalebranchists，andthetheologianswholittledeservetobementionedhere，thatmatterisself-moved，notonlywhenorganized，asinawholeheart，forexample，butevenwhenthisorganizationhasbeendestroyed，humancuriositywouldliketodiscoverhowabody，bythefactthatitisoriginallyendowedwiththebreathoflife，findsitselfadornedinconsequencewiththefacultyoffeeling，andthuswiththatofthought。

And，heavens，whateffortshavenotbeenmadebycertainphilosopherstomanagetoprovethis！andwhatnonsenseofthissubjectIhavehadthepatiencetoread！

Allthatexperienceteachesusisthatwhilemovementpersists，howeverslightitmaybe，inoneormorefibres，weneedonlystimulatethemtore-exciteandanimatethismovementalmostextinguished。

ThishasbeenshowninthehostofexperimentswithwhichIhaveundertakentocrushthesystems。Itisthereforecertainthatmotionandfeelingexciteeachotherinturn，bothinawholebodyandinthesamebodywhenitsstructureisdestroyed，tosaynothingofcertainplantswhichseemtoexhibitthesamephenomenaoftheunionoffeelingandmotion。

Butfurthermore，howmanyexcellentphilosophershaveshownthatthoughtisbutafacultyoffeeling，andthatthereasonablesoulisbutthefeelingsoulengagedincontemplatingitsideasandinreasoning！Thiswouldbeprovedbythefactalonethatwhenfeelingisstifled，thoughtalsoischecked，forinstanceinapoplexy，inlethargy，incatalepsis，etc。Foritisridiculoustosuggestthat，duringthesestupors，thesoulkeepsonthinking，eventhoughitdoesnotremembertheideasthatithashad。

Astothedevelopmentoffeelingandmotion，itisabsurdtowastetimeseekingforitsmechanism。Thenatureofmotionisasunknowntousasthatofmatter。Howcanwediscoverhowitisproducedunless，liketheauthorofTheHistoryoftheSoul，weresuscitatetheoldandunintelligibledoctrineofsubstantialforms？

Iamthenquiteascontentnottoknowhowinertandsimplematterbecomesactiveandhighlyorganized，asnottobeabletolookatthesunwithoutredglasses；andIamaslittledisquietedconcerningtheotherincomprehensiblewondersofnature，theproductionoffeelingandofthoughtinabeingwhichearlierappearedtoourlimitedeyesasamereclodofclay。

Grantonlythatorganizedmatterisendowedwithaprincipleofmotion，whichalonedifferentiatesitfromtheinorganic（andcanonedenythisinthefaceofthemostincontestableobservation？）andthatamonganimals，asIhavesufficientlyproved，everythingdependsuponthediversityofthisorganization：theseadmissionssufficeforguessingtheriddleofsubstancesandofman。Itthusappearsthatthereisbutonetypeoforganizationintheuniverse，andthatmanisthemostperfectexample。Heistotheape，andtothemostintelligentanimals，astheplanetarypendulumofHuyghensistoawatchofJulienLeroy。Moreinstruments，morewheelsandmorespringswerenecessarytomarkthemovementsoftheplanetsthantomarkorstrikethehours；andVaucanson，whoneededmoreskillformakinghisfluteplayerthanformakinghisduck，wouldhaveneededstillmoretomakeatalkingman，amechanismnolongertoberegardedasimpossible，especiallyinthehandsofanotherPrometheus。Inlikefashion，itwasnecessarythatnatureshouldusemoreelaborateartinmakingandsustainingamachinewhichforawholecenturycouldmarkallmotionsoftheheartandofthemind；forthoughonedoesnottelltimebythepulse，itisatleastthebarometerofthewarmthandthevivacitybywhichonemayestimatethenatureofthesoul。Iamright！Thehumanbodyisawatch，alargewatchconstructedwithsuchskillandingenuity，thatifthewheelwhichmarksthesecondhappenstostop，theminutewheelturnsandkeepsongoingitsround，andinthesamewaythequarter-hourwheel，andalltheothersgoonrunningwhenthefirstwheelshavestoppedbecauserustyor，foranyreason，outoforder。Isitnotforasimilarreasonthatthestoppageofafewbloodvesselsisnotenoughtodestroyorsuspendthestrengthofthemovementwhichisintheheartasinthemainspringofthemachine；since，onthecontrary，thefluidswhosevolumeisdiminished，havingashorterroadtotravel，coverthegroundmorequickly，borneonasbyafreshcurrentwhichtheenergyoftheheartincreasesinproportiontotheresistanceitencountersattheendsoftheblood-vessels？Andisnotthisthereasonwhythelossofsight（causedbythecompressionoftheopticnerveanditsceasingtoconveytheimagesofobjects）nomorehindershearing，thanthelossofhearing（causedbytheobstructionofthefunctionsoftheauditorynerve）impliesthelossofsight？Inthesameway，finally，doesnotonemanhear（exceptimmediatelyafterhisattack）withoutbeingabletosaywhathehears，whileanotherwhohearsnothing，butwhoselingualnervesareuninjuredinthebrain，mechanicallytellsofallthedreamswhichpassthroughhismind？

Thesephenomenadonotsurpriseenlightenedphysiciansatall。Theyknowwhattothinkaboutman’snature（andmoreaccuratelytoexpressmyselfinpassing）oftwophysicians，thebetteroneandtheonewhodeservesmoreconfidenceisalways，inmyopinion，theonewhoismoreversedinthephysiqueormechanismofthehumanbody，andwho，leavingasidethesoulandalltheanxietieswhichthischimeragivestofoolsandtoignorantmen，isseriouslyoccupiedonlyinpurenaturalism。

ThereforeletthepretendedM。Charpderidephilosopherswhohaveregardedanimalsasmachines。Howdifferentismyview！

IbelievethatDescarteswouldbeamanineverywayworthyofrespect，if，borninacenturythathehadnotbeenobligedtoenlighten，hehadknownthevalueofexperimentandobservation，andthedangerofcuttingloosefromthem。Butitisnonethelessjustformetomakeanauthenticreparationtothisgreatmanforalltheinsignificantphilosophers——-poorjesters，andpoorimitatorsofLocke——-whoinsteadoflaughingimpudentlyatDescartes，mightbetterrealizethatwithouthimthefieldofphilosophy，likethefieldofsciencewithoutNewton，mightperhapsbestilluncultivated。

Thiscelebratedphilosopher，itistrue，wasmuchdeceived，andnoonedeniesthat。Butatanyrateheunderstoodanimalnature，hewasthefirsttoprovecompletelythatanimalsarepuremachines。Andafteradiscoveryofthisimportancedemandingsomuchsagacity，howcanwewithoutingratitudefailtopardonallhiserrors！

Inmyeyes，theyareallatonedforbythatgreatconfession。Forafterall，althoughheextolsthedistinctnessofthetwosubstances，thisisplainlybutatrickofskill，aruseofstyle，tomaketheologiansswallowapoison，hiddenintheshadeofananalogywhichstrikeseverybodyelseandwhichtheyalonefailtonotice。

Foritisthis，thisstronganalogy，whichforcesallscholarsandwisejudgestoconfessthattheseproudandvainbeings，moredistinguishedbytheirpridethanbythenameofmenhowevermuchtheymaywishtoexaltthemselves，areatbottomonlyanimalsandmachineswhich，thoughupright，goonallfours。Theyallhavethismarvelousinstinct，whichisdevelopedbyeducationintomind，andwhichalwayshasitsseatinthebrain（orforwantofthatwhenitislackingorhardened，inthemedullaoblongata）andneverinthecerebellum；forIhaveoftenseenthecerebelluminjured，andotherobservershavefoundithardened，whenthesoulhasnotceasedtofulfilitsfunctions。

Tobeamachine，tofeel，tothink，toknowhowtodistinguishgoodfrombad，aswellasbluefromyellow，inaword，tobebornwithanintelligenceandasuremoralinstinct，andtobebutananimal，arethereforecharacterswhicharenomorecontradictory，thantobeanapeoraparrotandtobeabletogiveoneselfpleasure。Car，puisquel’occasionsepr&eacute；sentedeledire，quieutjamaisdevin&eacute；&agrave；prioriqu’unegouttedelaliqeurquiselancedansl’accouplementfitressentirdesplaisirsdivins，etqu’ilenna&icirc；traitunepetitecr&eacute；ature，quipourraitunjour，pos&eacute；escertaineslois，jouirdesm&ecirc；med&eacute；lices？Ibelievethatthoughtissolittleincompatiblewithorganizedmatter，thatitseemstobeoneofitspropertiesonaparwithelectricity，thefacultyofmotion，impenetrability，extension，etc。

Doyouaskforfurtherobservations？Herearesomewhichareincontestableandwhichallprovethatmanresemblesanimalsperfectly，inhisoriginaswellasinallthepointsinwhichwehavethoughtitessentialtomakethecomparison。

J’enappale&agrave；labonnefoidenosobservateurs。Qu’ilsnousdisents’ilne’stpasvraiquel’hommedanssonprincipen’estqu’unver，quidevienthomme，commelachenillepaillon。Lesplusgravesauteurs[Boerhaave，Inst。Med。ettantd’autres]nousontappriscommentilfauts’yprendrepourvoircetanimalcule。Touslescurieuxl’ontvu，commeHartsoeker，danslasemencedel’homme，etnondanscelledelafemme；

iln’yaqueleplusadroit，ouleplusvigoreuxquiaitlaforcedes’insinueretdes’implanterdansl’oeufquefournitlafemme，etquiluidonnesapremi&egrave；renourriture。

Cetoeuf，quelquefoissurprisdanslestrompesdeFallope，estport&eacute；

parcescanaux&agrave；lamatrice，o&ugrave；ilprendracine，commeungraindebl&eacute；danslaterre。Maisquoiqu’ilydeviennemonstru-euxparsacroissancede9mois，ilnediff&egrave；repointdesoeufsdesautresfemelles，sicen’estquesapeau（l’amnios）

nesedurcitjamais，etsedilateprodigeusement，commeonenpeutjugerencomparantlesfoetustrov&eacute；sensituationetpr&egrave；sd’&eacute；clore（cequej’aieuleplaisird’observerdansunefemmemorteunmomentavantl’accouchement），avecd’autrespetitsembryonstr&egrave；sprochesdeleurorigine：caralorsc’esttoujoursl’oeufdanssacoque，etl’animaldansl’oeuf，qui，g&ecirc；n&eacute；danssesmouvements，cherchemachinalement&agrave；voirlejour；etpouryr&eacute；ussir，ilcommenceparrompreaveclat&ecirc；tecettemembrance，d’o&ucirc；

ilsort，commelepulet，l’oiseau，etc。，delaleur。J’ajouteraiuneobservationquejenetrouvenullepart；c’estquel’amniosn’enestpasplusmince，pours’&ecirc；treprodigieusement&eacute；tendu；semblableencela&agrave；lamatricedontlasubstancem&ecirc；mesegonfledesucsinfiltr&eacute；s，ind&eacute；pendammentdelar&eacute；pl&eacute；tionetdud&eacute；ploiementdetoussescoudesvasculeux。

Letusobservemanbothinandoutofhisshell，letusexamineyoungembryosoffour，six，eightorfifteendayswithamicroscope；afterthattimeoureyesaresufficient。Whatdowesee？

Theheadalone；alittleroundeggwithtwoblackpointswhichmarktheeyes。Beforethat，everythingisformless，andoneseesonlyamedullarypulp，whichisthebrain，inwhichareformedfirsttherootsofthenerves，thatis，theprincipleoffeeling，andtheheart，whichalreadywithinthissubstancehasthepowerofbeatingofitself；itisthepunctumsaliensofMalpighi，whichperhapsalreadyowesapartofitsexcitabilitytotheinfluenceofthenerves。Thenlittlebylittle，oneseestheheadlengthenfromtheneck，which，indilating，formsfirstthethoraxinsidewhichthehearthasalreadysunk，theretobecomestationary；

belowthatistheabdomenwhichisdividedbyapartition（thediaphragm）。Oneoftheseenlargementsofthebodyformsthearms，thehands，thefingers，thenails，andthehair；theotherformsthethighs，thelegs，thefeet，etc。，whichdifferonlyintheirobservedsituation，andwhichconstitutethesupportandthebalancingpoleofthebody。Thewholeprocessisastrangesortofgrowth，likethatofplants。Onthetopsofourheadsishairinplaceofwhichtheplantshaveleavesandflowers；everywhereisshownthesameluxuryofnature，andfinallythedirectingprincipleofplantsisplacedwherewehaveoursoul，thatotherquintessenceofman。

Suchistheuniformityofnature，whichwearebeginningtorealize；

andtheanalogyoftheanimalwiththevegetablekingdom，ofmanwiththeplant。Perhapsthereevenareanimalplants，whichinvegetating，eitherfightaspolypsdo，orperformotherfunctionscharacteristicofanimals。

Voil&agrave；&agrave；peupr&egrave；stoutcequ’onsaitdelag&eacute；n&eacute；ration。

Quelespartiesquis’attirent，quisontfaitespurs’unirensembleetpouroccupertelleoutelleplace，ser&eacute；unissenttoutessuivantleurnature；etqu’ainsiseformentlesyeux，lecoeur，l’estomacetenfintoutlecorps，commedegranshommesl’ont&eacute；crit，celaestpossible。Mais，commel’exp&eacute；riencenousabandonneaumilieudescessubtilit&eacute；s，jenesupposerairien，regardanttoutcequinefrappepasmessenscommeunmyst&egrave；reimp&eacute；netrable。Ilestsirarequelesdeuxemencesserencontrentdanslecongr&egrave；s，quejeseraistent&eacute；decroirequelasemencedelafemmeestinutile&agrave；lag&eacute；n&eacute；ration。

Maiscommentenexpliquerlesph&eacute；nom&egrave；nes，sanscecommoderapportdeparties，quirendsibienraisondesressemblancesdesenfants，tant&ocirc；taup&egrave；re，ettant&ocirc；t&agrave；lam&egrave；re？D’unautrec&ocirc；t&eacute；，l’embarrasd’uneexplicationdoit-ellecontrebalancerunfait？Ilmeparaitquec’estlem&acirc；lequifaittout，dansunefemmequidorrt，commedanslapluslubrique。L’arrangementdespartiesseraitdonefaitdetoute&eacute；ternit&eacute；danslegerme，oudansleverm&ecirc；medel’homme。Maistoutceciestfourtau-dessusdelaport&eacute；edesplusexcellentsobservateurs。Commeilsn’ypeuventriensaisir，ilsnepeuventpasplusjugerdelam&eacute；caniquedelaformationetdud&eacute；veloppmentdescorps，qu’unetaupeducheminqu’uncerfpeutparcourir。

Weareveritablemolesinthefieldofnature；weachievelittlemorethanthemole’sjourneyanditsiourpridewhichprescribeslimitstothelimitless。Weareinthepositionofawatchthatshouldsay（awriteroffableswouldmakethewatchaheroinasillytale）：``Iwasnevermadebythatfoolofaworkman，Iwhodividetime，whomarksoexactlythecourseofthesun，whorepeataloudthehourswhichImark！No！thatisimpossible！’’Inthesameway，wedisdain，ungratefulwretchesthatweare，thiscommonmotherofallkingdoms，asthechemistssay。Weimagine，orratherweinfer，acausesuperiortothatwhichweoweall，andwhichtrulyhaswroughtallthingsinaninconceivablefashion。

No；mattercontainsnothingbase，excepttothevulgareyeswhichdonotrecognizeherinhermostsplendidworks；andnatureisnostupidworkman。Shecreatesmillionsofmen，withafacilityandapleasuremoreintensethantheeffortofawatchmakerinmakingthemostcomplicatedwatch。Herpowershinesforthequallyincreatingthelowliestinsectandincreatingthemosthighlydevelopedman；theanimalkingdomcostshernomorethanthevegetable，andthemostsplendidgeniusnomorethanabladeofwheat。Letusthenjudgebywhatweseeofthatwhichishiddenfromthecuriosityofoureyesandofourinvestigations，andletusnotimagineanythingbeyond。Letusobservetheape，thebeaver，theelephant，etc。，intheiroperations。

Ifitisclearthattheseactivitiescannotbeperformedwithoutintelligence，whyrefuseintelligencetotheseanimals？Andifyougrantthemasoulourarelost，youfanatics！Youwillinvainsaythatyouassertnothingaboutthenatureoftheanimalsoulandthatyoudenyitsimmortality。Whodoesnotseethatthisisagratuitousassertion；whodoesnotseethatthesoulofananimalmustbeeithermortalorimmortal，whicheveroursis，andthatitmustthereforeundergothesamefateasours，whateverthatmaybe，andthatthusinadmittingthatanimalshavesouls，youfallintoScyllainanefforttoavoidCharybdis？

Breakthechainofyourprejudices，armyourselveswiththetorchofexperience，andyouwillrendernaturethehonorshedeserves，insteadofinferringanythingtoherdisadvantage，fromtheignoranceinwhichshehasleftyou。Onlyopenwideyoureyes，onlydisregardwhatyoucannotunderstand，andyouwillseethattheploughmanwhoseintelligenceandideasextendnofurtherthantheboundsofhisfurrow，doesnotdifferessentiallyfromthegreatestgenius，——-atruthwhichthedissectionofDescartes’sandofNewton’sbrainswouldhaveproved；youwillbepersuadedthattheimbecileandthefoolareanimalswithhumanfaces，astheintelligentapeisalittlemaninanothershape；

inshort，youwilllearnthatsinceeverythingdependsabsolutelyondifferenceoforganization，awellconstructedanimalwhichhasstudiedastronomy，canpredictaneclipse，asitcanpredictrecoveryordeathwhenithasuseditsgeniusanditsclearnessofvision，foratime，intheschoolofHippocratesandatthebedsideofthesick。Bythislineofobservationsandtruths，wecometoconnecttheadmirablepowerofthoughtwithmatter，withoutbeingabletoseethelinks，becausethesubjectofthisattributeisessentiallyunknowntous。

Letusnotsaythateverymachineoreveryanimalperishesaltogetherorassumesanotherformafterdeath，forweknowabsolutelynothingaboutthesubject。Ontheotherhand，toassertthatanimmortalmachineisachimeraoralogicalfiction，istoreasonasabsurdlyascaterpillarswouldreasonif，seeingthecast-offskinsoftheirfellowcaterpillars，theyshouldbitterlydeplorethefateoftheirspecies，whichtothemwouldseemtocometonothing。Thesouloftheseinsects（foreachanimalhasitsown）istoolimitedtocomprehendthemetamorphosesofnature。

Neveroneofthemostskillfulamongthemcouldhaveimaginedthatitwasdestinedtobecomeabutterfly。Itisthesamewaywithus。Whatmoredoweknowofourdestinythanofourorigin？Letusthensubmittoaninvincibleignoranceonwhichourhappinessdepends。

Hewhosothinkswillbewise，just，tranquilabouthisfate，andthereforehappy。Hewillawaitdeathwithouteitherfearordesire，andwillcherishlife（hardlyunderstandinghowdisgustcancorruptaheartinthisplaceofmanydelights）；hewillbefilledwithreverence，gratitude，affection，andtendernessfornature，inproportiontohisfeelingofthebenefitshehasreceivedfromnature；hewillbehappy，inshort，infeelingnature，andinbeingpresentattheenchantingspectacleoftheuniverse，andwewillsurelyneverdestroynatureeitherinhimselforinothers。Morethanthat！Fullofhumanity，thismanwilllovehumancharactereveninhisenemies。Judgehowhewilltreatothers。Hewillpitythewickedwithouthatingthem；inhiseyes，theywillbebutmis-mademen。Butinpardoningthefaultsofthestructureofmindandbody，hewillnonethelessadmirethebeautiesandthevirtuesofboth。Thosewhomnatureshallhavefavoredwillseemtohimtodeservemorerespectthanthosewhomshehastreatedinstep-motherlyfashion。Thus，aswehaveseen，naturalgifts，thesourceofallacquirements，gainfromthelipsandheartofthematerialist，thehomagewhicheveryotherthinkerunjustlyrefusesthem。Inshort，thematerialist，convinced，inspiteoftheprotestsofhisvanity，thatishebutamachineorananimal，willnotmaltreathiskind，forhewillknowtoowellthenatureofthoseactions，whosehumanityisalwaysinproportiontothedegreeofanalogyprovedabove[betweenhumanbeingsandanimals]；andfollowingthenaturallawgiventoallanimals，hewillnotwishtodotootherswhathewouldnotwishthemtodotohim。

Letusthenconcludeboldlythatmanisamachine，andthatinthewholeuniversethereisbutasinglesubstancedifferentlymodified。Thisisnohypothesissetforthbydintofanumberofpostulatesandassumptions；itisnottheworkofprejudice，norevenofmyreasonalone；IshouldhavedisdainedaguidewhichIthinktobesountrustworthy，hadnotmysenses，bearingatorch，sotospeak，inducedmetofollowreasonbylightingthewaythemselves。Experiencehasthusspokentomeinbehalfofreason；andinthiswayIhavecombinedthetwo。

ButitmusthavebeennoticedthatIhavenotallowedmyselfeventhemostvigorousandimmediatelydeducedreasoning，exceptasaresultofamultitudeofobservationswhichnoscholarwillcontest；andfurthermore，IrecognizeonlyscholarsasjudgesoftheconclusionswhichIdrawfromtheobservations；andI

herebychallengeeveryprejudicedmanwhoisneitheranatomist，noracquaintedwiththeonlyphilosophywhichcanherebeconsidered，thatofthehumanbody。Againstsostrongandsolidanoak，whatcouldtheweakreedsoftheology，ofmetaphysics，andoftheschools，avail，————childisharms，likeourparlorfoils，thatmaywellaffordthepleasureoffencing，butcanneverwoundanadversary。NeedIsaythatIrefertotheemptyandtrivialnotions，tothepitiableandtriteargumentsthatwillbeurged（aslongastheshadowofprejudiceorofsuperstitionremainsonearthforthesupposeincompatibilityoftwosubstanceswhichmeetandmoveeachotherunceasingly？

Suchismysystem，orratherthetruth，unlessIammuchdeceived。

Itisshortandsimple。Disputeitnowwhowill。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读