^he Conclufion, 203 



Though real Fads are inconteflahle Ar- 

 guments, and no Reafoning feems neceflary 

 after lb many repeated Experiments, there 

 are certain Prepofleffions, Prejudices and 

 Humours among Mankind (arifing from 

 early imbibed Theories or Syftems, accord- 

 ing to which they have accuftomed them- 

 felves to judge of Things) that make People 

 fometimes difbelieve even v^hat they fee, 

 are ftronger than Reafon, and will hardly be 

 conquer'd even by the plaineft Fads. 



Hence it is that fome have objeded to the 

 Reality of the Polype s> being a living Crea- 

 ture, notwithflanding its moving from Place 

 to Place, feizing its Prey, eating, digefting, 

 and other Animal Fundions : becaufe its other 

 Properties happen to be unfuitable to their 

 Hypothecs of Life in general. 



If the Animal Soul or Life, fay they, be 

 one indivifible Eflence, all in all, and all ia 

 every Part, how comes it, in this Creature, 

 to endure being divided forty or fifty Times, 

 and ftill continue to exift and flourifh? 



Again: If animal Identity, fay they, con- 

 fifts in Confcioufnefs -, and if every living 

 Creature is fenfible of Pleafure and Pain, or 

 in other Words has a Confcioufnefs, which 

 moft think a reafonable Suppofition ^ when 

 the Polype is divided into feveral Parts, all 

 foon becoming perfed Polypes^ where fhall 



we 



