i6o THEPHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER VI. 



Of the Senfes. 



NO animal of which we have any knowledge is endowed with 

 more than the five external fenfes of fmelling, tafting, hear- 

 ing, touch, and feeing ; and no animal, however imperfeft, is defti- 

 tute of the whole. Without organs of fenfation, in a fmaller or 

 p-reater number, animal or intellefliual exiftence is to us an incon- 

 ceivable idea. Hence the notion of the ancients, and of a very few 

 moderns, that this earth, as well as all the heavenly bodies, are in- 

 telligent beings, though they have not the veftige of any inftrument 

 of fenfation, or of any thing analogous to our ideas of animation, 

 except mechanical motion, is too abfurd even to be ferioufly men- 

 tioned. 



Upon this interefting fubjeft, as it comprehends every fource of 

 information, and every motive to aftion in man, as well as in the 

 inferior animals, it is not furprifing that fo much has been written, 

 and that fo many different theories have been invented, and fubmit- 

 ted to public infpe<3:ion. Some of thefe theories fhall be taken no- 

 tice of in a curfory manner, and others, as unworthy of attention, 



ftiall be paffed over in filence. 



Our 



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