166 THE PHILOSOPHY 



m the fame manner. It is fociety and culture which fofteR 

 and moderate the paflions and adtions of men, as well as thofe 

 of docile animals. 



Brutes, like men, learn, to fee objedls in their proper po* 

 iition, to judge of diftances and heights, and of hurtful, 

 plcafureable, or indifferent bodies. Without fome portion of 

 reafon, therefore, they could never acquire the faculty of 

 making a proper ufe of their fenfes. A dog, though pref- 

 fed with hunger, will not feize a piece of meat in prefence 

 of his mafter, unlefs it be given to him : But, with his eyes, 

 his movements, and his voice, he makes the moft humble 

 and expreffive petition. If this balancing of motives be not 

 reafoning, I know not by what other name it can be called. 



Animals, recently after birth, know not how to avoid 

 danger. Neither can they make a proper ufe of their mem- 

 bers. But experience foon teaches them what is pleafant 

 and w^hat is painful, what obje£ls are hurtful and what falu- 

 tary. A young cat, or a dog, who has had no experience of 

 leaping from a height, will without hefitation, precipitate itfelf 

 from the top of a high wall. But, after perceiving that cer- 

 tain heights are hurtful, and other's inotfenfive, the animal 

 learns to make the diftindtion, and never afterwards can be 

 prevailed upon to leap from a height which it knows will be 

 produ6live of pain- 



Young animals examine every obje£l they meet with. In 

 this invefligation they employ all their organs. The firil: pe- 

 riods of their life are dedicated to ftudy. When they run 

 about, and make frolickfome gambols, it is Nature fporting 

 with them for their inftruction. In this manner they im- 

 prove their faculties and organs, and acquire an intimate 

 knowledge of the objeifts which furround them. IMen who, 

 from peculiar circumftances, have been prevented from 

 mingling with companions, and engaging in the different 

 amufements and exercifes of youth, are ahvays awkwtird in 



