PHYSIOLOGY. 423 



II. PHYSIOLOGY. 



2523. Physiology is the doctrine or science which 

 treats of the functions of the animal. Like the organ- 

 ology was, so also must the science of the functions be 

 developed. There will be functions of the whole animal, 

 and of the tissues, systems and organs. 



A. FUNCTIONS OF THE ANIMAL IN GENERAL. 



2524. The first act of the animal is an assimilation 

 to the universe, whereby it also receives or takes up into 

 itself the primary function of the universe. This is the 

 perception of the circumscription and totality in itself, its 

 self-manifestation, the feeling of self . The first action of 

 the animal mass is that of self-sensation. Now, through 

 the self-sensation, self-substantiality has been granted. 



2525. The animal is consequently a Whole in Singulars 

 only through the feeling of self. 



2526. As the universe is only an analysis of the self- 

 consciousness of God ; so also can the development of the 

 animal and the formation of its organs, be none other 

 than an analysis of the self-sensation. All other functions 

 (just as all masses are only a metamorphosed nervous 

 mass) are but differently polarized self-sensations, or these 

 as it were dispersed. 



2527. The self-sensation of an individual body is not, 

 however, inclosed within itself, like the primary relation 

 of the universe ; because it is not the universe, but only a 

 fraction of it, which has sprouted forth like a bud from the 

 great planetary body. The self-sensation is not there- 

 fore a simple feeling of self, but a feeling also of some- 

 thing foreign or extraneous, and thus the animal self- 

 sensation becomes, in reference to Nature, an act of dis- 

 crimination or discernment. 



2528. Now, the animal is distinguished only from 

 Nature" by the act of being liberated from it. It is there- 

 fore comprehended in a constant liberation or severance. 

 The life of the animal continues only by a constantly re- 



