84 



METAPHYSICS. 



Metaphy- 

 sics. 



It does not move itself, for whatever moves is moved by 

 some other moving power. It is not a rare body compos- 

 ed of elements ; for then it would not have perception, 

 more than the elements which compose it. The soul 

 has three faculties, the nulritive, the sensitive, and the 

 rational ; the superior compiehending the inferior po- 

 tentially. The nutritive faculty is that by which life 

 is produced and preserved. The sensitive is that by 

 which we pe.ceive and feel ; it does not perceive itself, 

 nor its organs, but some external object, through the in- 

 tervention of its organs, which are adapted to produce 

 the senation of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. 

 The senses receive sensible species or forms without 

 matter, as wax receives the impression of a senl with- 

 out receiving any part of its substance. The extern-il 

 senses perceive objects, but it is the common or inter- 

 nal sense which observes their difference. 



He defined the mind to be the principle by which 

 we live, perceive, and understand. When he attempted 

 to form an abstract conception of this principle, he saw 

 that there must be some substance which enjoys such 

 perfection, as to be capable of performing this function : 

 and in defining this substance, he made use of a term, 

 which his followers suppose to express some very pro- 

 found and recondite meaning : he called it Enlelecheia, 

 that is, perfection, or perfect energy. This word w.-ts 

 conceived to be so very mysterious, that Hermolaus 

 Barbarus, who translated the Rhetoric, and other pieces 

 of Aristotle, is said to have implored the assistance of 

 a divinity to enable him to understand its meaning : 

 had he obtained this favour, it is probable that he would 

 have been farther advanced than Aristotle who framed 

 it. It was differently understood by different authors, 

 according as it suited their particular views, and is 

 thus explained by Leibnitz to accommodate his leading 

 hypothesis : Nomen Entelechiarum imponi possit omni- 

 bus subslantiis simphcibiis seu monadibus creatis. 



Aristotle's metaphysical notions respecting matter 

 were very singular, and we believe we may say incom- 

 prehensible. This, of course, is not admitted by adepts, 

 who maintain that he has given us the only intelligible 

 views on the subject. We shall allow the master and 

 the scholars to explain their own ideas. Matter, ac- 

 cording to Aristotle, is either ir^tarn or Tr^ny^m ; that is, 

 primary or proximate. Thus, iron and wood are not of 

 the same proximate matter; but their primary or ele- 

 mentary matter is the same. If the primary matter 

 did not exist, neither could the proximate or immedi- 

 ate. The primary matter is neither earth, nor air, nor 

 fire, nor water; it is neither hot, nor cold, nor dry, nor 

 moist, nor solid, nor extended. It is the universal ele- 

 ment, but can never become objective to sense. Spi- 

 noza, who was an acute soplu'st, and a deep-read, though 

 we cannot think a profound metaphysician, availed him- 

 self of these sublimated, or rather incomprehensible 

 notions of matter, to establish his system of universal 

 materialism, by which he makes Deity himself mate- 



,.;.,! T*l- T7 L I_M._ !_*.__ 1 . 1_ 1 . __ 



table and divisible, which is absurd. Sir William Drum- Mettphy 

 mond, in his academical questions, has given a pretty s i c! - 

 full exposition of the physical and moral system of Spi- ~ V"* 

 noza, and has given every advantage to the interlocu- 

 tor who supports it, without adducing any counterba- 

 lancing refutation. 



His design in this was singular ; for he is any thing 

 but a Spinozist. But as his object is to explode the 

 existence of matter, independent of the perceptions of 

 mind, he seems to wish to terrify his readers into his 

 doctrine, by stating the dangerous consequences which 

 result from admitting the independent existence of mat- 

 ter. The experiment is a little dangerous ; for were 

 there no medium between Spinozisni and idealism, a 

 good part of mankind might be puzzled how to form a 

 decision. But there is a medium; and whatever diffi- 

 culties may attend the conception of matter as existing 

 independent of our perceptions, it certainly involves 

 no impossibility. 



If our readers find any difficulty in forming a con- 

 ception of matter abstracted from all its qualities, they 

 shall have the benefit of Mr. Harris's illustration : " We 

 gain a glimpse of it by abstraction, when we say that 

 the first matter is not the lineaments and complexion 

 which make the beautiful face ; nor yet the flesh and 

 blood which make those lineaments and that com- 

 plexion ; nor yet the liquid and solid aliments which 

 make that flesh and blood ; nor yet the simple bodies 

 of earth and water which make tho.se various aliments; 

 but something which, being below all these, and sup- 

 porting them all, is yet different from them all, and es- 

 sential to their existence." 



But our elegant author is not content with giving us 

 a glimpse of this subtile and evanescent substance : " We 

 obtain a sight of it, he observes, when we say, that as 

 is the brass to the statue, the marble to the pillar, the 

 timber to the ship, or any one secondary matter to any 

 one peculiar form, so is the first and original matter to 

 all forms in general." 



This certainly seems to be pushing matter to the 

 very verge of existence ; and, therefore, Sir William 

 Drummond, a keen immaterialist, observes, that we 

 had better pause before we break the bubble of the ideal 

 philosophy, lest it be all that is left to save us from 

 utter annihilation. 



The metaphysics of Aristotle formed the text book 

 on these subjects to Europe and the world, for many 

 centuries, The Arabians were as great adepts as the 

 monks of the dark ages. To be able to comprehend 

 and to wield the Orga/ium of Aristotle was considered 

 as the highest attainment in knowledge, and the most 

 desirable accomplishment in literature. It was reckon- 

 ed presumptuous, and almost heretical, to call his au- 

 thority in question. Of this we have a remarkable 

 proof in the fateot Peter Ramus, an intrepid impugner 

 of the Aristotelian philosophy. His bold attacks on 



a 



system which had been admired for so many ages, gave 



rial. The French philosophists, during the revolution- great offence. His antagonists, however, attacked him 

 ary phrenzy, went still farther than this ; and one of at first only with arguments. But finding him refrac- 

 them had the insanity to announce, that he hoped soon tory, or rather too strong; for them, they proceeded to 

 to be able to ascertain the particular form of crystal!!- harsher measures. He was accused of an attempt to 

 zation which constituted Deity ! Spinoza, like Aris- subvert both religion and philosophy ; and though he 



challenged his opponents to a public disputation, he 

 could not obtain an impartial hearing ; and was pro- 

 hibited by Francis I. from writing or teaching philo- 

 sophy. This sentence was afterwards reversed by Hen- 

 ry II. and Ramus was appointed regius professor of 

 eloquence and philosophy, anil afterwards of mathe- 

 matics. His enemies, however, became more virulent 



7. 



, 



totle, contended that primary matter, or substance as 

 he calls it, is something completely distinct from any 

 of its modifications, in order to elude the objections 

 which had been urged against his system, from the mu- 

 tability and divisibility of matter. For it was said with 

 justice, that if Deity was material, the self-existent and 

 eternal principle which Spinoza admitted must be mu. 



