Chapter XXX: Part III: Biology--Of the Whole in Singulars (17)
3566. The lower position of the Rodentia admits of being easily proved by taking to our aid the meaning of the dental system. The splanchnic or visceral teeth obviously rank lower than the membral teeth. Now, it so happens that the anterior teeth are in the Rodentia the principal organ, not only of the dental formula, but of the entire animal. Without gnawing-teeth the Mice could not maintain their existence, much less their character. They thus depend wholly and solely upon the visceral teeth, and are consequently the lowest Thricozoa.
In addition to this comes their small size, which is by no means a character to be despised, and one to which all naturalists pay regard, even while they keep it, upon the other hand, in the background; or else they must place the Elephant below the Field-mice.
3567. I divide them, as well according to structure as habit, into three groups. The one has the front and hind feet of equal length, with blunt claws for digging.
The other has similar feet, with sharp claws for climbing.
Lastly, the third has the hind feet longer than the fore for leaping.
_Fam. 1._ Infusorial Thricozoa--_Wühlmäuse._
Eyes and auditory conchæ feebly developed, feet for scraping, tail lax; live always under the ground, and eat roots and grains--Spalax, Rat, Common and Field-mouse, Beaver; mostly only three molars.
_Fam. 2._ Polypary Thricozoa--_Klettermäuse_.
Eyes, ears, and tail large, the latter being stiff and hairy, claws pointed; live mostly upon trees, eating nut-kernels and fruit; usually four molars--Squirrels.
_Fam. 3._ Acalephan Thricozoa--_Laufmäuse_.
Eyes and ears large, tail hairy, hind feet longest, claws obtuse, lamellar or plicated teeth; live upon the surface of the earth and eat grass--Hares and Guinea-pigs; mostly more than four molar teeth.
_Order 2. Ader-, Geschlechts, Schalthier-Haarthiere--Kaumäuse._
3568. Teeth and toes deviating completely from those of every other order; nor in a less degree the method of propagation.
In some instances all the teeth are wanting, in some they exceed the ordinary number, and are quite uniform; sometimes the lateral teeth only are similar, but in this case there are no canines and incisors; or else there are canines with more than six incisors, or also with rodent teeth.
In like manner the toes are irregular; the one kind being disproportionately large and the other absurdly small; some are for the most part wholly connate; in many cases there are hands posteriorly. The claws also are in some instances obtuse, in others sharp for climbing, or else asymmetrically large and unciform. Hands adapted for swimming or flight also occur.
Finally, the sexual parts are quite aberrant, being mostly very large and singularly formed; the mammæ frequently lodged in a pouch, or at least furnished with marsupial bones. The young are born as naked and immoveable embryos, and suckled for a very long time.
All this reminds us of the Conchozoa or Shell-animals as doth also their unusual covering of belts, scales, spines and long hairs.
_Fam. 4._ Mussel-like Thricozoa, _Sloths_.
Lateral and canine teeth equal in size and obtuse, incisors mostly wanting, and occasionally all the teeth; claws very large and curved--Ornithorynchi, Ant-eaters, Armadillos and Sloths.
_Fam. 5._ Snail-like Thricozoa, _Herbivorous Marsupials_.
Rodent teeth, usually with stunted proximal and canine teeth, lateral teeth level; toes mostly connate and very unequal; they live in the Old World upon roots, grass, and fruit--Wombat, Dasyure, Kangaroo, Opossum.
_Fam. 6._ Kracken-Haarthiere, _Carnivorous Marsupials_.
Mostly more than six incisors, triangular molars and large canines; live in the New World and in Australia, eating worms, insects, eggs and flesh--Vulpine Phalanger, Phascogale, Beutelratze.
The abnormal structure of the sexual parts reminds us of the same relation in the Snails and Kracken.
_Order 3. Lungen-, Fell-, Ringelthier-Haarthiere--Raubmäuse._
3569. Molar teeth mostly quadriacuminate, with a break in the series, canines and pointed incisors, or rodent teeth with lateral incisors, five toes; live upon worms and insects.
_Fam. 7._ Worm-Thricozoa, _Moles_.
Claws, sharp incisors or rodent teeth, with lateral incisors or false molars; live exclusively under the earth, and cast up the mould.
_Fam. 8._ Crustaceous Thricozoa, _Shrews_.
Paws, rodent teeth, with small lateral incisors and canine teeth. Many burrow passages without throwing up the soil.
_Fam. 9._ Ptilotal Thricozoa, _Bats_.
Alary membrane between the feet and anterior digits; pointed canine and incisor teeth.
_Order 4. Sarco-Thricozoa--Ungulata._
3570. Body large and heavy; teeth stunted, molars uniform, tolerably obtuse; feet fin-or hoof-like; mostly udders, rarely mammæ.
_Fam. 10. Ichthyoid Thricozoa, Whales._
Skin naked; no hind feet; two horizontal caudal fins; toes of the anterior feet surrounded by a common skin; no auditory conchs; posteriorly two udders. All live in the sea.
It is hardly necessary, in speaking of the Whales, to direct attention to their monstrously-developed osseous system and large fleshy tongue, as also to their correspondence with Fishes in the entire form, manner of living, and imperfect nose. Their head is still confluent with the neck, the teeth are horny plates of coalesced hairs, or uniform simple points, as in Fishes. Most of them have even dorsal fins; the two udders are hardly separated from the sexual parts.
_Fam. 11. Reptilian Thricozoa, Pigs._
Four feet with hoofs; canines and mostly also incisors; stomach simple, do not ruminate--Nylghau, Pig, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Horse. These animals love the marshes, and are through their mode of living, as also their form, similar to the larger Reptiles; or, in other words, through their colossal skeleton, with preponderating muscular mass, they are Myozoa, through the proboscis or snout, Rhinozoa.
_Fam. 12. Ornithic Thricozoa, Ruminants._
Toes bifid, surrounded by a hoof; above there are rarely incisor and canine teeth; udders behind; stomach fourfold; they ruminate. The horn-formation indicates a relationship with feathers; the want of incisor teeth, large ears, and timidity of disposition that of the family with the class of Birds.
Both families enter into connexion with the Whales through the size of their body, the structure of their feet, form of the head and disposition towards water and mud. They are quadrupedal Whales, which have come out of the water, and adopted a manner of living like the Amphibious Reptiles and Grallatorial Birds.
_Order 5. Æsthesio-Thricozoa--Unguiculata._
3571. Here for the first time an equiponderance of the sensorial organs makes its appearance and along with it therefore a resemblance between the animals, which is no more interrupted by such strange or odd forms, as in the preceding orders.
All of them have divided toes with claws or nails, and all kinds of teeth with multiacuminate enamelled molars.
3572. No doubt can exist about the animals belonging to the present order; they are the Apes, Bears, and Carnivora generally, as Seals, Cats, Dogs, Martens, and such like beasts.
I also cherish no doubt concerning the rank of the two first families, namely, the Apes and Bears, although they have been separated in a strange manner by the interposition of the Bats and likewise the Shrews. At some future time one will not believe that the Bats and Shrews were once placed next to the Apes.
3573. Doubt, however, may exist concerning the rank of the Carnivorous or Rapacious animals; so that here the principles of our philosophy must be brought to bear in our behalf. I regard then these animals as the highest representatives of the sensorial organs. By this step three families at once take their proper positions, viz.:
Man upon the station or rank of the Eye.
The Apes on that of the Ear.
The Bears upon the post of the Nose.
Difficulties are consequently presented in regard only to the Rapacious animals, but which are removed, so soon as the three families just named are parallelized with the others thus:
Bone, Tongue, Whales.
Muscles, Nose, Pigs--Bears.
Nerves, Ear, Cattle--Apes.
Senses, Eye--Man.
Now the Seals range of themselves next the Whales.
There are thus left the Rapacious animals proper, which as Dermatozoa or Sentient animals must consequently correspond to the Splanchnozoa. In favour of this, evidence is afforded not only by the particular use made of their feet, but their great number also, which can admit of comparison with no individual family or order.
Now, however, there are three orders of Murine animals.
1. Rodent Mice--the Rodentia proper.
2. Chewing Mice--the Sloths and Marsupialia.
3. Rapacious Mice--the Moles, Shrews, and Flitter-mice, or Bats.
In like manner do the rapacious Carnivora divide into three groups.
1. The mostly sneaking and scansorial Martens and Viverræ.
2. The sneaking and fossorial Skunks, Gluttons, and Badgers, with soles and blunt claws.
3. The high-legged Digitigrades, as Dogs, Hyænæ, and Cats.
As I have given up the dental formula in the Rodentia as a means of division, so now it seems to me that it must be abandoned also in the Beasts of Prey. The whole appearance of them and their mode of living, which is still the main point in view, obviously directs us more towards consideration of the feet, than of the dental formula. The Marten or Weasel kind were formerly compared with the Mice, and called on that account Mustela. They cannot be regarded otherwise than as the lowest in rank.
Unto them are obviously annexed the short-legged Civets, despite their cunoidal set of teeth. Many have half soles or pads under the feet. With these again the Fox-like animals, notwithstanding their viverrine dental formula, enter into alliance. I believe that I have rightly parted the Badger from the Bears, and rightly done it too in this place.
The highest are without doubt the Dogs, Hyænas, and Cats, with their long and upright legs, not to speak of their mental faculties. We accordingly obtain the following arrangement.
_Fam. 13._ Dermal Thricozoa--_Carnaria_.
All kinds of teeth included; six broad incisors, a longer canine, two to three small false molars, a large carnivorous tooth and large Querzahn, and frequently also the Kornzahn. Mostly five separated toes, with nails resting upwards, and either sharp or obtuse feet, occasionally soled. They eat flesh, mostly that of warm-blooded animals, and kill their prey themselves.
_Alliance 1. Rodent-like Unguiculate Animals--Schleicher._
Feet short and oblique, mostly sharp claws without entire soles.
_1. Mole-like Animals--Martens._
Sharp claws without soles, and no Kornzahn--Martens and Otters.
_2. Squirrel-like--Civets._
Sharp, curved, and mostly retractile claws, superiorly the Kornzahn--Civet, Paradoxurus.
_3. Leporine or Hare-like--Ichneumons._
Straight claws with half soles--Ichneumon, Ryzæna.
_Alliance 2. Kaumausartige--Fossores._
Large and straight claws with soles, no Kornzahn.
_1. Sloth-like Animals--Mephitic Animals._
Dental formula, like that of the Marten--Skunk, Mydaus.
_2. Wombat-like--Gluttons._
Dental formula, like that of Marten, but behind the carnivorous is a small tubercular tooth which is wider, being broader than long.
_3. Opossum-like--Badgers._
The tuberculous tooth larger than the carnivorous tooth, and nearly quadrangular.
_Alliance 3. Raubmausartige--Digitigrada._
Legs high and upright; no soles.
_1. Mole-like--Dogs._
Claws blunt, the Kornzahn both in upper and lower jaw.
_2. Shrew-like--Hyænas._
Claws blunt; no Kornzahn but a small Querzahn.
_3. Bat-like--Cats._
Claws sharp, curved, and retractile; no lower tubercular tooth, but a small upper one.
_Fam. 14._ Lingual Thricozoa, _Seals_.
Feet fin-shaped, the hinder pair stretched out, dental formula complete, but the lateral teeth tolerably even, and six or four incisors; tongue mostly somewhat slit. They correspond to the Whales.
_Fam. 15._ Nasal Thricozoa, _Bears_.
Nose elongated into a snout, walk upon soles; all kinds of teeth, of which, however, the carnivorous or tearing tooth is similar to the grinders, six incisors.
The slower gait, originating from their walking on the soles of the feet, with the less pointed molars, assign to these animals a less rapacious habit of living. They therefore kill no large animals, and are satisfied with worms and even roots, fruit, and honey. They repeat the Pigs.
_Fam. 16._ Nasal Thricozoa, _Apes_.
The ears begin to acquire the human form, as do even the teeth; never more than four incisors, but a longer canine; hands both fore and aft.
These animals live upon fruits and beetles, and are by their scansorial feet destined to live upon trees. Their varied, piping, and sonorous cry is a property of the sense of hearing, and along with it the larynx also usually obtains a stronger amount of development.
3574. It seems that every family of Thricozoa contains five genera, and that these accord with the organs of sense. In many families this relation is at least striking, e. g.
Among the Pigs the Elephant is obviously characterized by the nose, the Hippopotamus by the skin, the Pig by the dental system; and thus by the sense of taste, the Rhinoceros by large ears, the Horse by the eyes, thus
1. Skin Hippopotamus.
2. Tongue Pig.
3. Nose Elephant.
4. Ear Rhinoceros.
5. Eye Horse.
In like manner do the Ruminantia or Cattle become distinctly marshalled according to the five senses. The Camel recedes from the others by its simply uplying hoofs, the Musk-deer by its monstrous canine; the Goat is distinguished by its fine sense of smell, and the Giraffe by its large ears, the Ox by the large and beautiful eye, thus
1. Hautrind Camel.
2. Zungen- Musk-deer.
3. Nasen- Goat.
4. Ohren- Giraffe.
5. Augen- Ox.
In the Bears also we are confronted by this principle of classification.
The Skin-bear is the Common Bear.
The Tongue- " is the Raccoon.
The Nose- " is the Nasua.
The Ear- " is the Arctitis.
The Eye- " is the Cercoleptes.
After this principle had been so strikingly verified in several families, I proceeded with confidence also to those which were more difficult, and it resulted that each consists only of five genera severally distinguished by the predominance of some one organ of sense. This method has been carried out throughout my "Allgemeine Naturgeschichte."
_Fam. 17._ Ophthalmozoa, _Man_.
Superiorly or in front hands, inferiorly or behind soles.
3575. Here all the senses enter for the first time into a state of perfect equiponderance or proportion. Skin naked, and therefore a perfect organ of feeling; feet and hands differently constructed for progression and manipulation; tongue and lips fleshy, while the latter have hitherto been only tegumental; all the kinds of teeth different, but still very similar, being of equal height and nearly equal size; nose elevated by its whole length from the face, and fleshy; ears oval, laid close against the head and having regular windings or convolutions; eyes directed forwards, with perfect eyelids, and moveable in all directions.
3576. Man by the upright walk obtains his character, namely, that of bodily freedom, for his hind feet take the place of all the four feet of other animals, by which means the hands become free and can achieve all other offices, the feet alone serving to support the body.
He is the only animal that surveys with the axes of the eyes borne parallel the most extensive horizon. All animals whose eyes look higher up or above the ground, as the Horse, Elephant, Ostrich, and such like creatures, have eyes directed sideways.
3577. With the freedom of the body has been granted also the freedom of the mind. Man sees everything, the whole universe, while the animals can only view individual parts thereof, two of these even invariably appearing different, so that the images seen by them are never reduced to unity.
3578. There is only one human family, only one human genus, and only one species; and this just because Man is the whole Animal Kingdom.
3579. But yet there are five kinds or varieties of Men, according with the development of the sensorial organs.
1. The Skin-Man is the _Black_, African.
2. The Tongue- " is the _Brown_, Australian--Malayan.
3. The Nose- " is the _Red_, American.
4. The Ear- " is the _Yellow_, Asiatic--Mongolian.
5. The Eye- " is the _White_, European.
_Co-arrangement._
3580. The classes of Sarcozoa pass or rank parallel to each other in the following manner:
| CLASS X. | CLASS XI. | CLASS XII. |
| | | |
Anatomical | Osteozoa, | Myozoa, | Neurozoa, |
_Systems_. | _Fishes_. | _Reptiles_. | _Birds_. |
| | | |
I. _Intestinal._ | _Ord._ I. | _Ord._ I. | _Ord._ I. |
| | | |
|F. |F. |F. |
Stomach--Infusoria |1. Lampreys |1. Salamanders |1. Tree Creepers|
Intestine--Polypi |2. Plectognathi|2. Frogs |2. Woodpeckers |
Absorbents--Acalephæ.|3. Shads. |3. Tortoises. |3. Cuckoos. |
| | | |
II. _Vascular._ | _Ord._ II. | _Ord._ II. | _Ord._ II. |
| | | |
Veins--Mussels |4. Eels |4. Schuppen- |4. Sparrows |
Arteries--Snails |5. Haddocks |5. Tafel- |5. Crows |
Heart--Kracken. |6. Grundeln. |6. Schienens- |6. Parrots. |
| | chlangen. | |
| | | |
III. _Pulmonary_. | _Ord._ III. | _Ord._ III. | _Ord._ III. |
| | | |
Skin--Worms. |7. Tunnies |7. Schleichen- |7. Singing-birds|
Branchiæ--Crabs |8. Breams |8. Schuppen- |8. Fly-catchers |
Tracheæ--Flies. |9. Perch. |9. Schienen- |9. Hawks. |
| | Echsen.| |
| | | |
IV. _Flesh._ | _Ord._ IV. | _Ord._ IV. | _Ord._ IV. |
| | | |
Bones--Fishes |10. Herrings |10. Icthyosauri |10. Geese |
Muscles--Reptiles |11. Salmons |11. Geckos |11. Herons |
Nerves--Birds. |12. Pike. |12. Pterodactyli.|12. Fowls. |
| | | |
V. _Senses._ | _Ord._ V. | _Ord._ V. |_Ord._ V. |
| | | |
Thricozoa. |13. Sharks. |13. Crocodiles. |13. Bustards. |
| CLASS XIII. |
| |
Anatomical | Sense-animals,| Aisthesio- | Sense-Organs.
_Systems_. | _Thricozoa_. | _Thricozoa_. | 1. _Tegument._
| | 13. Mausartige |
I. _Intestinal._ | _Ord._ I. | 1. Wühlmäuse | I. _Ovum._
| | |
|F. |F. |
Stomach--Infusoria |1. Wühlmäuse |1. Martens |Vitellus--Infusoria
Intestine--Polypi |2. Kletter- " |2. Civets |Albumen--Polypi
Absorbents--Acalephæ.|3. Lauf- " |3. Ichneumons. |Envelopes--Acalephæ.
| | |
II. _Vascular._ | _Ord._ II. | 2. Kaumäuse | II. _Sex._
| | |
Veins--Mussels |4. Sloths |4. Skunks |Spawn--Mussels
Arteries--Snails |5. Beutelhasen |5. Gluttons |Milt--Snails
Heart--Kracken. |6. Beutelmarder.|6. Badgers. |Kidneys--Kracken.
| | |
III. _Pulmonary._ | _Ord._ III. | 3. Raubmäuse | III. _Limbs._
| | |
Skin--Worms. |7. Scheermäuse |7. Dogs |Papillæ--Worms
Branchiæ--Crabs |8. Shrews |8. Hyænas |Feet--Crabs
Tracheæ--Flies. |9. Bats. |9. Cats. |Wings--Flies.
| | |
| | | IV. _Cephalic
IV. _Flesh._ | _Ord._ IV. | | Senses._
| | |
Bones--Fishes |10. Whales |14. Seals |2. _Tongue_--Fishes
Muscles--Reptiles |11. Pigs |15. Bears |3. _Nose_--Reptiles
Nerves--Birds. |12. Ruminants. |16. Apes. |4. _Ears_--Birds
| | |
V. _Senses._ | _Ord._ V. | |
| | |
Thricozoa. |13. Aisthesio- |17. Man. |5. _Eyes_
| | | --Thricozoa.
| Thricozoa.| |
3581. By the accompanying table the parallelism of the different families is recognized, as well as their remaining relationships, both among themselves as also with the Asarcous animals, if their table at p. 614 be compared with it, and which could not for want of room be inserted here.
3582. It is, moreover, proved from this table that the classes stand one above the other, but yet that each recommences from below, so that the lower animals of a higher class are more stunted or rudimental than the upper ones of a lower class. Thus the Salamanders are more rudimental, that is, they have organs more imperfect than the Sharks; the Tree-creepers are more rudimental than the Crocodiles, the Mice than the Fowls and Bustards.
Nevertheless these stunted animals stand higher than those of the lower classes, because they are characterized by a higher organ.
What holds good of the classes holds good again of the orders and families also. The lower animal of a consecutive family is again more rudimental than the upper one of the antecedent family. Thus the Ornithorynchus is more rudimental than the Beaver, the Shrew-mouse more rudimental than the Opossum and such like creatures.
In the highest families the equiponderance is first restored, and the lowest Man is still higher than the uppermost Ape.
IV. PSYCHOLOGY.
FUNCTIONS OF THE ANIMALS.
3583. The present section treats concerning the functions of the Whole animal, just as the preceding one did of those belonging to individual organs. It is at bottom the psychological part of Physio-philosophy. The functions are so numerous and difficult also to arrange, that I place this section here, to point out rather its situation than to follow out or trace its development.
3584. All the functions of an entire animal are spiritual or sensorial functions; at least they are conditionated by the senses, and I will also speak of them only in this respect. The mechanical and chemical functions have been already comprehended in the physiological part. The senses only make their appearance gradually in animals, and with them also the spiritual functions.
A. FUNCTIONS OF THE DERMATOZOA.
1. _Enterozoa or Oozoa._
3585. These animals are governed chiefly by a passive sense of feeling, from their consisting for the most part of a naked, homogeneous, and gelatinous integument, and living in water, an element wherein the other senses can be but slightly active.
3586. Their sense of feeling stands upon the lowest grade, since it is only the sensibility of the tegument, there being no articulated organs of touch, so that it consists only in the discrimination of an opposing object.
The ability or power to discriminate is not yet consciousness; for unto this a reflexion upon the object discriminated is necessary.
The Infusoria, Polypi, and Acalephæ, simply feel that something else is there, but they are so completely imprisoned in this feeling that they are unable to submit the same to an internal process of comparison.
3587. By reason of this inability to compare their own feelings, not a trace is left unto them of internal change; so that these creatures are truly devoid of memory or recollection.
The Infusoria have only sensation, nothing else; they are therefore in ceaseless motion. They are actually capable of nothing but moving and eating. Of all other spiritual functions they are utterly devoid.
3588. Their spiritual life is in some degree a mesmeric condition. Destitute of the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting, they feel every thing, or, properly speaking, perform all these functions at _one and the same time_, and by _one_ organ, the visceral mass. By mesmerism they find their food, perceive the light, and become transparent unto themselves, just as they are really in a physical point of view. For they are only viscera or visceral nerves.
_Development of the Mind._
3589. The mind, just as the body, must be developed out of these animals. The human body has been formed by an extreme separation of the neuro-protoplasmic or mucous mass. So must the human mind be a separation, a memberment of infusorial sensation.
3590. The highest mind is an anatomized or dismembered mesmerism, each member whereof has been constituted independent in itself.
The skeleton of this dissected mind, when scientifically represented, would be the science of the mind, i. e. Philosophy, properly so called.
Pneumato-philosophy is the likeness of Physio-philosophy. For spirit is only the tension of nature, and nature only the spirit set in motion.
The philosophy of spirit must develop itself out of the philosophy of nature, as doth the flower out of the stem. For nature is the spirit analyzed and at rest, which we can handle at our pleasure. It does not appear only for an instant; but as stone, air and such like entities, abideth always, as if to solicit and preserve us for its investigation.
A Philosophy or Ethicks apart from Physio-philosophy is a nonentity, a bare contradiction, just as a flower without a stem is a non-existent thing.
3591. As many essential members as Physio-philosophy hath, into so many must Pneumato-philosophy also divide, and this too so exactly that the two shall cover each other.
The reason why one has hitherto rambled about in Pneumato-philosophy without ballast and without compass, depends solely upon the disregard which has been paid to the science or knowledge of Nature. It is in fact not difficult to understand how impossible it must be, from observations made upon the rapidly evanescent phenomena of the spirit, to thence abstract a system of the laws in conformity wherewith this spirit manifests itself or acts. Spirit is nothing different from Nature, but simply her purest outbirth or offspring, and therefore her symbol, her language. With such a basis as this, we shall no longer pursue the _ignes fatui_ of the mind, but first of all endeavour to banish them into the provinces or realms of Nature, and there co-ordinate them in conformity with her laws; then for the first time shall we recognize the flaming lights of the mind and the divine voices, which all matter proclaimeth through the speech of Man.
He, who were once in a condition to reveal or disclose this conformity of Nature's phenomena with those of Spirit, will have learnt the philosophy of the latter.
2. _Functions of the Vascular or Sexual Animals._
3592. These animals are no longer merely sentient, 'clairvoyant' Acalephæ, because, in addition to the nervous mass, they are provided with other systems, such as the sexual and vascular, with the special organs of digestion and taste.
These three or four organs must also resolve themselves into three spiritual functions; the vascular system furnishes special organs of feeling and therewith a voluntary sense of feeling; the intestine and chiefly the liver is now the cardinal organ, and will therefore execute the mesmerically percipient functions.
3593. In the liver the faculty of anticipation and foresight, with melancholy, choleric passion, and anger, appear to reside. Encephalic thought is reflected in it.
The liver is the soul in a state of sleep, the brain is the soul active and awakening. In it the spirit broods unconsciously for years, and then breaks forth fearfully, as capriciousness, tyranny and sorrow, but also as earnestness and strength.
Circumspection and foresight appear to be the thoughts of the Bivalve Mollusca and Snails.
Gazing upon a Snail, one believes that he finds the prophesying goddess sitting upon the tripod. What majesty is in a creeping Snail, what reflection, what earnestness, what timidity and yet at the same time what firm confidence! Surely a Snail is an exalted symbol of mind slumbering deeply within itself.
The old artists must have felt this signification, as in many of their representations they have introduced a Snail. One can hardly think, that in so doing they wished to express such common and lascivious ideas, as are at present manifested openly or secretly by our daily enjoyments.
3594. The intestine must moreover be concerned with the sense of taste. Taste, however, leads to voracity, gluttony, daintiness, sluggishness and drowsiness.
3595. Taste in union with the sexual function is the expression of venery or lust.
This is indicated by the secretion of slime, by the monstrous size too of the sexual organs, and by their androgynism, which enables either individual during copulation to enjoy the delicious feeling, belonging to the male and female, either at once or alternately. Their food also appears to be selected from a feeling of desire.
Circumspection in feeling, dainty voracity, and immoderate lust appear to constitute the spiritual character of the Malacozoa, especially of the Snails.
_3. Functions of the Respiratory or Arthric Animals._
3596. The Insect is mainly an aerial and motor organ, and therefore its spirit is also of an aerial and motor kind.
The respiratory process produces strength, and this again courage, both which are the distinguishing properties of Insects. The Insect is the strongest and boldest animal upon the earth.
Health, plenitude of life, generosity, nobleness, and heroism dwell in the thorax.
3597. But besides these virtues the spirit of the thorax is also that of smell. Insects have an excellent sense of smell, the spirit of which is _cunningness_ and treachery, wherein no animal will easily surpass them.
3598. The Insect has moreover a spirit of motion or versatility of the tactile sense, which is displayed in the representation of symmetrical figures. This faculty proceeds especially from the creative sexual functions--as mechanical or _artistic instinct_.
All spirit of motion launches out into mechanical instinct. It disappears in all classes of animals, which chiefly correspond to the sex and belly, as, e. g. in Fishes and Reptiles. On the other hand, in the moveable thoracic animals or Birds, the mechanical instincts at once re-appear.
Mechanical instinct and dexterity of limbs run parallel together.
The dexterity of the limbs taken up into the spirit is an _art-sense_.
B. FUNCTIONS OF THE CEPHALOZOA.
3599. Here the head is for the first time placed in a perfect condition, and hence an antagonism arises for the first time between head and trunk.
The Cephalozoon no longer distinguishes nature and self only like the acephalous and amnemonic animals; but it distinguishes even its body from its head, because the Fish has begun to be a double animal.
3600. The Cephalozoon hath _consciousness_; consciousness of its condition, of its body, but not of its head and the operations therein. It has _no self-consciousness_.
3601. As soon as an animal contemplates a part of its body, of its world, and hath consciousness in a general sense, it has also _memory_. For memory is a repetition of _its own_ condition, not the reiterated feeling of a foreign object.
The Acephalous or anencephalic animals have therefore no memory, because they live only in opposition to the world, but never in antagonism to themselves. Every perception is therefore a new one for them, because it is always an actual object which excites them. Whether Insects have memory, has not yet been made out.
3602. The brainless animals have no ideas, and naturally so, because they have no consciousness.
It would appear likewise that they do not feel pain.
The Cephalozoa have ideas, and quite certainly pains, because they become partly an object unto themselves.
4. _Functions of the Osteo-or Glossozoa._
3603. The Fish's head is the lowest, and therefore its mind also will manifest only the first function, that ranks above the mind of the Acephalozoa, the _memory_.
With this memory, however, all the spiritual functions, exhibited by the preceding classes, but chiefly mesmerism, have been bestowed.
3604. Fishes are again provident, zealous animals, that, drawn together by mysterious bands, make the longest voyages, wherein they ascend and descend rivers, knowing how to find their prey over miles in extent.
All the mechanical instincts are, on the contrary, obliterated in them, as being fingerless, finned animals. Their principal business is propagation--Pelvic animals.
3605. Gluttony is the principal character of the Glossozoa, in so far as taste stands upon the lowest stage. Touch and taste are only motion and deglutition.
Smell becomes evidently stronger.
The ear still ranks upon the lowest stage, but yet they hear closely. In other respects they are mute, and exhibit all the consequences of aphony.
3606. Fishes are of the Phlegmatic temperament.
5. _Functions of the Myo-or Rhinozoa._
3607. Reptiles are Cephalozoa with well-developed lungs and nose, and are therefore gifted with voice.
3608. To memory comes the art of _ambuscade_ or lying in wait, a property of the olfactory sense, the application of memory. The circumspection of the Snails passes over into ambuscade and surprise.
With this character the higher perfection of the belly or of the digestive system, along with the poisoning saliva, is in parallel accordance. To take by surprise and to poison are acts of _one_ series.
3609. Reptiles appear enabled to _reflect_, i. e. several reminiscences are at their bidding. Now, the comparison of these constitutes reflection. They are therefore more sagacious than Fishes, docile and in some measure susceptible of instruction.
3610. The courage, which they have probably obtained through their aerial respiration, passes over more into impudence and sauciness.
3611. Reptiles are of the Melancholic crasis.
6. _Functions of the Neuro-or Otozoa._
3612. The spirit of the thorax and limbs is here predominant, whence comes the restlessness and mechanical instinct of the Bird.
The motor sense, the ear, is the prominent one. The ear, however, is partly the sense for the Indefinite, partly for the demolition of matter. The auditory spirit is _fear_.
But it passes over into joy, passion, levity, if it perfectly perceives tones.
3613. With the ear and the moveable organs of voice originates a kind of language, which is in a condition to express a multitude of sentiments. The language of Birds hath not a few tones, and expresses not a few passions.
3614. The Bird knits or associates for the first time with some completeness a sense, or definite sensation, to a simple tone. The Bird hath for the first time _signs_, or symbols, which are not the things themselves, but only _signify_ or mean them.
The Bird understands the relation of the spiritual expression to the organ or matter. It comprehends a connexion where none is materially, but which is only imparted by the idea.
The capacity to understand the thing in the image or idea, I call _imagination_, and of this Birds furnish us with very definite proofs.
Birds can therefore dream.
3615. Reptiles and Fishes appear to have no ideas because they have no _signs_, or tones, indicating the resolution of the organ into mind. For the tone is none other than the ghost of the organ or animal. Fishes and Reptiles do not indeed dream.
3616. The Bird, however, appears to get no further than to mere images or ideas. The conception is wanting unto them.
It has therefore no sense of shame. But possesses in a full degree circumspection, desire of imitation, comparison.
3617. To the Bird it is not simply the sensation of its body that becomes, like a foreign product, objective; but its own product, its voice, as something already distinct from its own mind.
3618. It is clear, that if all the sensorial functions were to become objective to the Bird, it would be self-apparent and resolve itself into self-consciousness. Thus does self-consciousness sprout forth gradually with the sensorial functions.
3619. Birds are of the Sanguineous temperament.
7. _Functions of the Æsthesio-or Ophthalmozoa._
3620. All the faculties hitherto mentioned occur here. The soul of the eye is still associated with them, and therewith the faculties of perception, understanding and conception appear to be bestowed.
One cannot refuse understanding to the Thricozoa. The actions of the Dog, Horse and Elephant, do not admit otherwise of being conceived; nor also the shame and pride, fidelity, animosity, desire of revenge, and yet many other properties exhibited by these animals.
But it is an understanding without self-consciousness, if we may so venture to express ourselves; an understanding of many signs, but devoid of any combination and separation of these signs; in a word, there is no faculty of _judgment_.
The Thricozoa are Choleric animals.
8. _Functions of the Panæsthetic Animal._
3621. If finally all its organs become objective to the animal, through contemplation of the universe, through hearkening of the animal restored into symbols; it thus contemplates itself, is apparent unto itself, and is quite conscious of itself.
Then is the animal equivalent to the whole animal kingdom and to the universe.
3622. The universal spirit is _Man_.
In the human race the world has become individual. Man is the entire image or likeness of the world. His language is the spirit of the world. All the functions of animals have attained unto unity, unto self-consciousness, in Man.
3623. The thorough penetration of all the animal's symbols, the comparison of all the world's symbols, and thus free comparison is _Reason_.
The understanding compares only the symbols of sounds, of men; but the reason compares also the symbols of light, of the world.
Reason is world-understanding; the understanding is animal reason.
All the mental functions of animals have become ratiocinative in Man.
Feeling is in him consciousness, consciousness is self-consciousness, the understanding is reason, the passion, freedom, the mechanical instinct artistic sense, the comparison science.
3624. The spirits of the senses are Art-spirits, the spirit of reason is the spirit of Science.
_Art._
3625. Art is the representation of the senses in Nature.
3626. The sense is, however, the last or ultimate design of Nature.
Art is consequently the representation of _Nature's design_. (Ed. 1st, 1811. § 3517.)
3627. That is beautiful which represents the will of Nature.
But non-beautiful is that which represents real Nature by means of art.
3628. Art is one universal business. Beautiful is that, which represents the world within a fragment or portion of the world.
3629. There is also one natural beauty--unconscious formation of the world's laws.
3630. The highest natural beauty is the universal portion of nature, i. e. Man.
Man expresses the ultimate goal or purpose of Nature's design.
3631. The terminus or goal of Nature is, in Man to revert again into herself. The human countenance most perfectly repeats the trunk, and again reverts wholly and actually into the trunk. That human countenance is beautiful, in which the vertebral column runs back again parallel with the vertebral column of the trunk. The facial vertebral column is the nose.
3632. The face is _beautiful_, whose nose runs parallel to the spine.
No human face has grown unto this estate, but every nose makes an acute angle with the spine. The facial angle is, as is well known, 80°.
What as yet no Man has remarked, and what is not to be remarked either without our view of the cranial signification, the old artists have felt through inspiration. They have not only made the facial angle a right angle, but have even stepped beyond this, the Romans going up to 96°, the Greeks even to 100°.
Whence comes it, that this unnatural face of the Grecian works of art, is still more beautiful than that of the Roman, when the latter comes nearer unto Nature? The reason thereof resides in the fact of the Grecian's artistic face representing Nature's design more than that of the Roman; for in the former the nose is placed quite perpendicular, or parallel to the spinal cord, and thus returns whither it has been derived.
3633. He who paints or otherwise copies Nature in a purely mechanical manner, is consequently a bungler; he is devoid of ideas, and imitates her no better than a bird does song, or an ape the postures of the human body. The province of Art is alas! not yet understood.
3634. In Man all the beauties of nature are associated or combined.
3635. Thus, Nature can be beautiful, in so far as she represents the individual ideas of Man.
3636. There are only two art-senses, the eye and the ear; and thus but two departments of art, the Plastic and Sonant, or that of _form_ and of _motion_.
3637. The province of form represents the material universe in its ideas, its design, and thus in its freedom.
3638. The representation of the bodily universe in the ideas is the _Architectural art_. (Ed. 1st 1811, § 3533.)
3639. The representation of heaven in the Plastic, is the church architecture.
The temple or church is the art of heaven.
3640. The representation of the planet in the Plastic is the house.
The house is the art of the planet.
The architectural art is the cosmical art.
3641. The representation of the Individual is the _Sculptor's art_.
The sculptural art represents the Terrestrial, and in its highest estate Man. It is the _Heroic art_.
3642. This art rendered manifest in matter, or repeated in light, is Painting.
Painting represents the symbol, the naught of the world, the heavenly, and also in its lowest estate a Spiritual.
Painting is the art of religion, the _Sacred art_.
Painting is the art of heathens, whose deities are men; Painting is the art of Christians, whose Men, being sacred or holy, are gods.
God can be painted, but not formed or sculptured.
3643. The art of motion represents the material and the spiritual motion.
3644. The representation of the world's material laws of motion is the _Dance_.
3645. The representation of the motion of individuals is the _Histrionic art_.
3646. The representation of the world's spiritual laws of motion, of the laws of the dance, is _Music_.
3647. The spiritual representation of the Histrionic is the _Poetic art_.
_Science._
3648. The representation of the rational world is Science.
3649. The first science is the _Science of Language_, the architecture of science, the earth.
3650. The second science is the _Art of Rhetoric_, the sculpture of science, the river.
3651. The third science is _Philosophy_, the painting of science, the respiration or breath.
This, like painting, divides into a number of branches, whereof the art of government is the highest.
3652. The fourth science is the _Art of War_, the art of motion, histrionism, music, poetic art of science, the light.
As in the art of poetry all arts have been blended, so in the art of war have all sciences and all arts.
The art of War is the highest, most exalted art; the art of freedom and of right, of the blessed condition of Man and of humanity--the Principle of Peace.
THE END.
End of Project Gutenberg's Elements of Physiophilosophy, by Lorenz Oken
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Elements of PhysiophilosophyChapter XXX: Part III: Biology--Of the Whole in Singulars (17)
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