132 ANIMAL-SENTIENT FORCES. [i. 



movements of the mechanical machines_, are sentient actions of 

 certain pleasing or unpleasing sensational conceptions (262, 

 81). NoWj since the natural instincts have for their objects, 

 the preservation and well-being of animals, and of their offspring, 

 but the means to these ends are not taught to animals, nor 

 even to man himself by experience, it follows that the concep- 

 tions are imparted to them without their knowledge and choice, 

 nay, even against their inclination, by means of previously 

 arranged inducements (external impressions on the nerves), 

 dispersed throughout nature by the Creator, wherein the 

 sensational stimuli lie concealed, which by means of their im- 

 pression on the brain develop those sentient actions in the 

 mechanical machines according to the laws of the actions of 

 desires and aversions, that have as their object, and in accord- 

 ance with the views of the Creator, the preservation and well- 

 being of animals or their offspring. Why the Creator has not 

 so restricted the mental faculty, that it could only develop 

 those conceptions which are in accordance with these objects, 

 and none other, is hidden from our knowledge. It is enough 

 that it is not so in nature ; but it has been determined so to 

 use the obscurest sensational faculty [Sinnlichkeit] of animals, 

 as to force upon them, as it were, as often and when it appears 

 necessary, such conceptions as must develop in them instinctive 

 actions in accordance with the objects of the Creator ; for the 

 obscure sensational conceptions, and especially external sensa- 

 tions, which are the principal means used by nature to this end, 

 are the only conceptions that the mind cannot develop inde- 

 pendently and at pleasure, but must receive from the external im- 

 pression on the nerves, which nature transmits to them (35, 66). 

 265. The double object of nature, namely, the excitement 

 and the satisfaction of the instincts, is attained thereby ; for the 

 obscure feelings which excite them and the external circum- 

 stances which satisfy them by means of their external impres- 

 sion, are so numerous at the fixed times and for the appointed 

 objects of each instinct, and the natural hindrances whereby 

 desires and aversions are weakened and do not attain to satis- 

 faction, so few, that the great object of nature in general is 

 always fully attained. Experience proves this irrefragably. 

 At the moment, when, according to the order of nature, an 

 instinct should be put into action, the nerves are certain to 



