Chap. V. A N T I E N T M E T A P H Y S I C S. 87 



To explain more particularly the nature of the lowefl: kind of life 

 which moves unorganized bodies, or of that which animates the ve- 

 getable^ belo igs to the fecond part of my work, in which I am to ap- 

 ply my philofophy of mind to the operations of nature : But I will here 

 treat of the animal ^.nA rational life ^ as 1 think it is necelfary to explain 

 them, in order to make ftill more evident the difiin£tion betwixt body 

 and tnind^ which I hold to be the foundation, not only of the philofophy 

 of mind^ but of natural philofophy, of metaphyfics, and particularly 

 of the highefi: part of metaohylics, theology : For 1 hold it impofiiblc 

 to attain to the ultimate end of philofophy, which is the knowledge 

 or God, without being able properly to make this diftindtion. Now, 

 in the animal and rational life^ the operation of ^nind is much more 

 vifible, being obvious to common fenfe and obfervation, than in the 

 other two kinds of life: For, in the animal and the ratiovMl life^ we 

 know, from the moft certain of all knowledge, namely conjcioujricfsy 

 the operations of 'mind -^ and, by attention and obfervation of the Aruc- 

 ture of the body, wq difcover by what means it ads, and how it is 

 aded upon. 



I will begin with the animal life. All animals, as well as vege- 

 tables, muft grow and be nourlihed : The former, becaufe there is, 

 by the order of nature, a progrefs from the embryo, or firil rudiments 

 of the animal, to its itate of perfection : The latter, becaufe it is form- 

 ed of materials that are daily wailing, and therefore ftand in 

 netd of conl^ant repair; which repair is by the means of nouriili- 

 ment *. And it is by nourilhrnent that the animal is not only pre- 

 ferved from death and diffolution, but it is by nourlfhment alfo, that 

 it grows and comes to maturity. Now, it is from with-ut that ani- 

 mals receive their nourifliment ; and fometimes they have to fcek it 

 at a confiderablc dillance. In order, therefore, to be nourilhed, they 

 muit have fome knowledge of external objcds, and mufl be able to 



dillinguifh 



* Sec' Phibponus*s jntrodu<Slion to his comrrt'etifarj' upcn'Arlflotlc's books de /Inima. 



