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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
parts must pose an earth and some planets and ets； and others a
sun and fixed stars。 And； making a digression at this stage on the subject
of light； I expounded at considerable length what the nature of that light
must be which is found in the sun and the stars； and how thence in an
instant of time it traverses the immense spaces of the heavens； and how
from the planets and ets it is reflected towards the earth。 To this I
likewise added much respecting the substance； the situation； the motions；
and all the different qualities of these heavens and stars； so that I thought I
had said enough respecting them to show that there is nothing observable
in the heavens or stars of our system that must not； or at least may not
appear precisely alike in those of the system which I described。 I came
next to speak of the earth in particular； and to show how； even though I
had expressly supposed that God had given no weight to the matter of
which it is posed； this should not prevent all its parts from tending
exactly to its center； how with water and air on its surface； the disposition
of the heavens and heavenly bodies； more especially of the moon； must
cause a flow and ebb； like in all its circumstances to that observed in our
seas； as also a certain current both of water and air from east to west； such
as is likewise observed between the tropics； how the mountains； seas；
fountains； and rivers might naturally be formed in it； and the metals
produced in the mines； and the plants grow in the fields and in general；
how all the bodies which are monly denominated mixed or posite
might be generated and； among other things in the discoveries alluded to
inasmuch as besides the stars； I knew nothing except fire which produces
light； I spared no pains to set forth all that pertains to its nature； the
manner of its production and support； and to explain how heat is
sometimes found without light； and light without heat； to show how it can
induce various colors upon different bodies and other diverse qualities；
how it reduces some to a liquid state and hardens others； how it can
consume almost all bodies； or convert them into ashes and smoke； and
finally； how from these ashes； by the mere intensity of its action； it forms
glass： for as this transmutation of ashes into glass appeared to me as
wonderful as any other in nature； I took a special pleasure in describing it。
I was not； however； disposed； from these circumstances； to conclude that
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
this world had been created in the manner I described； for it is much more
likely that God made it at the first such as it was to be。 But this is certain；
and an opinion monly received among theologians； that the action by
which he now sustains it is the same with that by which he originally
created it； so that even although he had from the beginning given it no
other form than that of chaos； provided only he had established certain
laws of nature； and had lent it his concurrence to enable it to act as it is
wont to do； it may be believed； without discredit to the miracle of creation；
that； in this way alone； things purely material might； in course of time；
have bee such as we observe them at present； and their nature is much
more easily conceived when they are beheld ing in this manner
gradually into existence； than when they are only considered as produced
at once in a finished and perfect state。
From the description of inanimate bodies and plants； I passed to
animals； and particularly to man。 But since I had not as yet sufficient
knowledge to enable me to treat of these in the same manner as of the rest；
that is to say； by deducing effects from their causes； and by showing from
what elements and in what manner nature must produce them； I remained
satisfied with the supposition that God formed the body of man wholly
like to one of ours； as well in the external shape of the members as in the
internal conformation of the organs； of the same matter with that I had
described； and at first placed in it no rational soul； nor any other principle；
in room of the vegetative or sensitive soul； beyond kindling in the heart
one of those fires without light； such as I had already described； and which
I thought was not different from the heat in hay that has been heaped
together before it is dry； or that which causes fermentation in new wines
before they are run clear of the fruit。 For； when I examined the kind of
functions which might； as consequences of this supposition； exist in this
body； I found precisely all those which may exist in us independently of
all power of thinking； and consequently without being in any measure
owing to the soul； in other words； to that part of us which is distinct from
the body； and of which it has been said above that the nature distinctively
consists in thinking； functions in which the animals void of reason may be
said wholly to resemble us； but among which I could not discover any of
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
those that； as dependent on thought alone； belong to us as men； while； on
the other hand； I did afterwards discover these as soon as I supposed God
to have created a rational soul； and to have annexed it to this body in a
particular manner which I described。
But； in order to show how I there handled this matter； I mean here to
give the explication of the motion of the heart and arteries； which； as the
first and most general motion observed in animals； will afford the means
of readily determining what should be thought of all the rest。 And that
there may be less difficulty in understanding what I am about to say on
this subject； I advise those who are not versed in anatomy； before they
mence the perusal of these observations； to take the trouble of getting
dissected in their presence the heart of some large animal possessed of
lungs （for this is throughout sufficiently like the human）； and to have
shown to them its two ventricles or cavities： in the first place； that in the
right side； with which correspond two very ample tubes； viz。； the hollow
vein （vena cava）； which is the principal receptacle of the blood； and the
trunk of the tree； as it were； of which all the other veins in the body are
branches； and the arterial vein （vena arteriosa）； inappropriately so
denominated； since it is in truth only an artery； which； taking its rise in the
heart； is divided； after passing out from it； into many branches which
presently disperse themselves all over the lungs； in the second place； the
cavity in the left side； with which correspond in th