PHYSIOLOGY. 459 



works henceforward only in and by itself, but yet in 

 relation to the inferior processes. 



1 . Function of the Sense of Feeling. 



2786. To constitute the sense of feeling the integu- 

 ment, in other words the nutritive or vascular system, has 

 assumed a nervose character, and consequently that 

 which is in communication with the materiality of the 

 external world. The function of this sense will there- 

 fore have materiality only for its object. 



2787. The integument is the organ by whose means 

 the animal is absolved or liberated from the world. The 

 sensation belonging to it, is none other than the percep- 

 tion of this diversity subsisting between the two. 



2788. Through the tegumentary sense, the world be- 

 comes a something external in relation to the nervous 

 function ; while previously it was such through the medium 

 of the skin for the lower organs only, viz. as an object 

 of absorption. The discrimination of materiality is 

 called Feeling. The sense of feeling is the earth-sense. 



2789. The sense of feeling perceives materiality, like 

 the nerves perceive all objects or all stimuli, through 

 polar excitation. Every pressure, every contact is polar 

 excitation. 



2790. The sense of feeling is characterized by poles 

 only being excited in it by absolute proximity or imme- 

 diate contact. Just because it is the first sense, through 

 which the animal is set free, so must that which is libe- 

 rated be at once perceived in the moment of liberation, 

 and thus in immediate contact. The sense of feeling is 

 a polarity of contact, a polarity without distance. The 

 stronger the contact, by so much the stronger is the 

 polar excitation there is increased pressure. The gra- 

 vity acts simply by pressure. The perception is there- 

 fore resolvable into one of pressure or contact. 



2791. Different degrees of pressure necessarily im- 

 part different amounts of feeling. Perception of the 

 different degrees of pressure made by an object betrays 

 its inequalities of surface. The sense of feeling is also 



