Volume 3

The economy of nature, explained and illustrated on the principles of modern philosophy / by G. Gregory.

  • Gregory, G. (George), 1754-1808.
Date:
1796
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The economy of nature, explained and illustrated on the principles of modern philosophy / by G. Gregory. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    102 Abfurdities of Helvetius. [Book IX. relation to other beings, as the ftate in which he at prefent fubfifts. The moft ftriking difference of ftrudture between man and the other animals is his erect figure, ex- cellently adapted to the more extenfive views which he was defigned to take of nature; and which, jnftead of being a mark, as Helvetius pretends to think, of human arrogance, in departing from the horizontal pofture, which was allotted to man in common with other quadrupeds, is one proof of the diftance which the Deity meant to interpofe be- tween man and the reft of the animal creation. Helvetius, however, denies the fuperiority of man in every refpeft; and maintains, that the mental acquirements of a horle would not be inferior to thofe of a man, if the former was furnifhed with fingers, and endued with the fame exquifite fenfe of feeling which the latter enjoys. We may grant that all our fimple ideas arc derived from the informa- tion of our fenfes ; but we would afk what experi- ments Helvetius or his, adherents have made, to alcertain, that there can be no differences in the ftrudlure of intelledhial organs ? and upon what au- thority they conclude, that all the varieties we ob- ferve in mental endowments, among individuals of the fame race, as wrell as among different races of animals, are folely to be referred to differences in the organs of fenfe ? But granting all that Helvetius requefts, how came man to have fingers and horfes none, if they wrere equally defigned to gallop through the foreftr—he muft either have made fingers for himfelf, or he muft have been originally defigned by his Maker for nobler occupations. * The / /