378 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 
the idea of spirit; but as this hypothetical being is 
not in the category of objects which it is possible 
for us to observe, we do not know how to take cog- 
nizance of it. The idea that we have of it is abso- 
lutely without base. 
‘“ We only know physical objects and only objects 
relative to these beings (étves): such is the condition 
of our nature. If our thoughts, our reasonings, our 
principles have been considered as metaphysical 
objects, these objects, then, are not beings (éres). 
They are only relations or consequences of relations 
(rapports), or only results of observed laws. 
‘“We know that relations are distinguished as 
general and special. Among these last are regarded 
those of nature, form, dimension, solidity, size, 
quantity, resemblance, and difference; and if we 
add to these objects the being observed and the 
consideration of known laws, as also that of conven- 
tional objects, we shall have all the materials on 
which our thoughts are based. 
‘“ Thus being able to observe only the phenomena 
of nature, as well as the laws which regulate these 
phenomena, also the products of these last, in a 
word, only bodies (corps) and what concerns them, 
all that which immediately proceeds from supreme 
power is incomprehensible to us, as it itself [z.e., 
supreme power] is to our minds. To create, or to 
make anything out of nothing, this is an idea we 
cannot conceive of, for the reason that in all that we 
can know, we do not find any model which repre- 
sents it. GOD alone, then, can create, while nature 
can only produce. We must suppose that, in his 
creations, the Divinity is not restricted to the use of 
any time, while, on the other hand, nature can effect 
nothing without the aid of long periods of time.”’ 
Without translating more of this remarkable book, 
which is very rare, much less known than the PAz/oso- 
