CHAP. X.
Of the Sense in General.
THe Vital or Flamy part of the Corporeal Soul,* being rooted in the Blood, seems not much to know or perceive what things are offer'd outwardly to, or acted inwardly in the Body: So, alth• the Blood have life, yet 'tis scarce sensible or knowing, for this which ought to be always employed, with a perpetual Motion, and even inkindling, for the Offices for the sustaining of Life, cannot be at leisure to mind any smaller Matters, or outward Accidents. Indeed great Passions also in some measure disturb the Blood, and pervert and variously drive it from its wonted Course, and like violent Blasts, shake not Page 56 only the Leaves or Body of the Tree, but also sometimes pull up the Roots out of the Earth: So whatsoever mutations or alterations happen to the Blood, proceed either from the Complexion of its Liquor being changed, or from the impulse or incitation of the containing Bodies.* But the other Sensitive part of this Soul, which being diffused within the Brain and stock of Nerves, is Co-extended or equally stretched forth with the Organical Body, and almost with all its Parts, is affected with every Contact, or with the meeting of other Bodies, she perceives all Impressions either outwardly objected, or raised up within; and as she is moved by these, every where diversly inflicted, she indues according to the various impulse of the Objects, various Gestures and Species in her self, and also draws the Members and Parts of the Body it self, with her wholly into the same Figures and Motions. For indeed it is the Energie or the Act of the Soul it self, from which every Function of the animated Body primarily and chiefly arises. If at any time any Stroke or Impression be inflicted any where to the animated Body, presently a certain Fluctuation or waving is stirred up in the Hypostasis of the whole Soul, or of the struck Member; by which, some Animal Spirits or subtil Particles, shut up in the Organical Parts, as a blast of Wind in a Machine, being struck, run hither and thither, and so produce the Exercises of Sense and Motion in the whole Body, or respective Parts.
Truly, among the various Gestures of the Corporeal Soul, by which, she altering her Species or Hypostasis, brings a change to the containing Body, the Sensitive and Loco∣motive Powers obtain the chief place; for as much as they are Common almost to all living Creatures, at least to the more perfect, to which also all the rest of the Faculties may easily be reduced.* These are the chief Advancers of the animated Body, upon which all the other Wheels of this Self-moving Divine Machine depend.
But the Internal and next efficient Cause, both of Sense and Motion, are the Hypostasis of the Sensitive Soul, or the Animal Spirits, instilled from the inkindled Blood into the Brain,* and from thence diffused into the Nervous Stock▪ which being distributed from the Brain, as the Fountain thorow the Nerves to the whole Body, imbue, irradiate, and blow up all the Parts, and bring a certain Tensity or stretching forth to each; so that the passages of the Nervous Bodies, like Cords stretched forth straitly on every side, from the Brain and its dependencies, reach forth into all the Exterior Parts, by which, so stretch'd forth, and actuated by a certain Continuity of the Soul, if one end be struck, presently the stroke is perceived through the whole, so that every Intention conceived within the Brain, presently performs the designed work, in every Member or Part; and on the other side, every impulse or stroke, which is inflicted from without to any Mem∣ber, or to the Sensitive Body, is communicated instantly to all Parts within the Head.* If that an Impression or force tends from the Brain outwards, thorow the Nerves into the moving Parts, Motion is produced; but if they being made outwardly, are directed inwards towards the Brain, Sense arises. But whil'st either of these are performed, it is not so to be understood, (as is commonly asserted) as if the same Spirits make hast, and leap back presently, as it were from one end of the Course or Circuit to the other; but as the Soul is stretched forth, thorow the whole, with a certain Conti∣nuity, its Particles, viz. the Spirits contiguous one with another are set like an Army in Array; for they after a Military fashion, whil'st they move not from their station, and keep Order, perform their Offices; and whether they be set in Battel Array, or on the Watch, they perform the Commands carried outward from the Brain, themselves being almost immoveable, and effect Motion, and deliver presently to the Brain the news of any sensible thing impressed,* whereby Sensation is made. So indeed, the same Ani∣mal Spirits, thô with an opposite and inverse tendency, and aspect of them, cause Mo∣tion and Sense: But both Faculties, as to the Exercises of their Acts, require something divers Organs; yea, the Animal Spirits planted within the same; for the performing the divers Offices of their Faculties, are ordered with a various Affection, and with a different manner of Orders. That each of these may be the more clearly illustrated, we shall first of all speak of the Sense, and of whatsoever belongs to it both in General and in Special, and then afterwards concerning Motion.
*The Sense, as it is taken in a more strict acceptation (viz. for the proper Function in animated Bodies, and by which they are distinguished from inanimates) is wont to be described after this manner; That it is the faculty of perceiving Sensible objects. Because, the Sensitive soul, as hath been said, being apt to be affected or moved by every Con∣tact or Impulse of an exterior Body, forces its constitution to vary in the whole, or in part, according as it is struck: But exterior Bodies, because they consist of Particles, of a various Kind, and diversly figured, therefore, when some are applied to others, their approaches one among another, are not always made after one and the same manner, but after a manifold manner, and with notable variety; to wit, either by Corporeal Con∣tacts, Page 57 or by Effluvia's falling from them, or by Particles, of Air, Breath, or Light, reflected from them, issuing from them on every side like Darts. Further, and to every one of these Kinds, many Species are attributed: Because, not only Concretes, but also various little Bodies of the same Subject, shew and impress manifold Types of their Contacts; several of which, as they are received and so known distinctly, by living Creatures,* the Sensitive Soul using Corporeal Organs, hath many Sensories, fitted for such variety of Objects, and divers representations of things; in which several, both the Conformation of the Pores, as also the disposition of the Animal Spirits, are pro∣portionated to the little Bodies, sent in from the Object, which are only of one Kind, fitly to be received. By this means sensible Impressions, at least that may be of use to any Animal, are perceived, and from this manifold way of Sension, proceeds the Know∣ledge of all things,* according to that of the Philosopher, All Knowledge is made by the Sense; when on the contrary, if Bodies and their Particles, should strike the Systasis of the naked Soul, or part of it, always after one and the same manner, nothing at all would be known, because one thing or parts, from another, or these from those Members, would not be distinguished. Wherefore, that all the chief Objects and their Accidents, might be distinctly noted, it is so provided, that some Particles strike this Organ and not that; so that they affect their several respective Sensories only, the rest being un∣touched.
From hence it is clear,* that 'tis necessary that there should be many Sensories in per∣fect Animals; which may perform divers Actions, both for the preserving of Life, and propagating the Kind, and also for the knowing many things, and chiefly for the em∣bracing of what things are Congruous to themselves, and for the shunning all incon∣gruous things; for this things 'tis needful, that the Sensitive Soul should be affected by the Objects, after a various manner, and so perceive their manifold Influencies. How vile their Condition is, and how hard their Lot, that are gifted with the only sense of the Touch,* appears from the Life and Operation of the more imperfect Animals, as Oysters and Lympins; then besides, how false is the Opinion of some, who say, That every Sense in all Animals is the feeling only; for althô every Affection is made by Contact, from the Object to the Soul; yet neither is the same thing still employed, nor received after the same manner; but how many types soever of sensible things are to be found, so many Counterfeits remain in the Sensories.
Nevertheless it may here be rightly Quaeried, How it may be? for as much as the whole Hypostasis or Contexture of the Soul, is made up of most subtil and also most highly moveable Particles,* that every one of them wheresoever implanted, are not indifferently moved, by every sensible stroke; when especially the Interior frame of the Soul, which is Common to all the Sensories, receives ths Affections of every one, and so is me∣diately affected by every sensible thing: I say, why the Spirits implanted in the Eye, do not equally perceive Sounds and Smells, as they do Colours? for as much as they in∣habiting the streaked Bodies, discern both these, and all other sensible things.
For the resolving of this Problem,* these two things are to be supposed, to wit, first, That the Structure of every Sensory is so made, according to its Pores and Passages, that Particles only proportionate to them may be admitted in: wherefore as Light, and the Images of things, pass thorow Glass, and clear Bodies; not dark Bodies; so the same are received only by the Eyes,* and not by the other Sensories: The same Reason holds of all the rest. For we may observe, when in the Circumambient Air, or in the At∣mosphere, there are Bodies of a various Nature, and of a divers Configuration, that some things affect this, others that Sensory, and so the things which are of a several Kind af∣fect the particular Organ of the Sense. As for Example, the Particles of most thin Air or Light, which seem to be of a Sulphureous Nature, being reflected from Bodies, Con∣vey (as was said) their Images into the Organs of the Sight or Seeing; the little Bodies of Air which seem to be saline, being repercussed from Solids, shake the Drum of the Ear, by their leaping back; yea, and the same being made clammy by a sweet dew, or moistned, affect the taste; the Particles of the same Air, filled with sweet Exhalations, strike the Nostrils: And lastly, The same stuffed with warm or cold Effluvia's, move the Sense of Feeling: But in the mean time, the Particles of the same Air or Element, which are proportionate to one Sensory, are incommunicable to the rest.
But Secondly,* the Animal Spirits themselves, which reside in the Organs of the Senses, and that are like Watchmen, are furnished for the respective meetings of the Objects, with a certain peculiar Provision, and an appropriate manner of Disposition: for when some Spirituous Particles, more pure than others, and more subtle exist, some more dull or blunt, others notably moveable, these Naked, those smered with Humor, and marked with many other Affections; it is so provided, that as the Naked Spirits, or those less Page 58 gifted suffice for the Sense of Feeling, these without any farther indowment are disposed every where in the Membranes, and fibrous Flesh; but the most pure Spirits, and as it were Chrystalline for the Sight, flow into the Eyes; those that are highly moveable are fitted for the Hearing, and the more Viscous, which are fused with a requisite Humour, for the Taste, and Smell.
*These things being thus premised, concerning the Multiplicity and Difference of the Senses, and the Organs, we will now inquire into Sension it self; by what means, and after what manner it is performed. Concerning these we thus say in general, that the Object being applied to the Sensory, (whether it be done immediately, or the Particles of the Air or Element coming between) doth impress its Idea or Character on the Spi∣rits implanted in that place; and in the same instant, by a continued Series of the Ani∣mal Spirits, as it were an Irradiation, the Type of its Impression doth pass from the Sensory to the Head; and whil'st the Spirits actuating the streaked Bodies, are in like manner affected by it, a perception of Sense, begun from the Organ, is formed.
*That Sight is so performed, Dioptrick Experiments do plainly shew, by which, the same Species of any Body, by a Glass artificially placed, may be Carried or Reflected hither or thither, and may be figured and beheld at once in several places: why in like manner, may we not Conceive the Image of the Object represented in the Eye, as in a Glass, to propagate its likeness from thence further to the streaked Bodies? But as to the other Sensories the Business seems more hard to be unfolded, because the sensible Spe∣cies, for as much as they are more Corporeal or thicker, cannot be conveyed to the Head with so quick a passage, and almost unperceiveable like Lightning; but as to these, it is to be understood, that althô the Smell, Touch, and Taste, require more near and more Corporeal approaches of the Object, than either the Sight or Hearing; yet the Animal Spirits, which as it were internuncii, are placed within every Organ, and the chief Sen∣sory, equally and as easily transmit the stroke or impulse of every Kind: Because as the Spirits are diffused thorow the whole Nervous System, and thorow the Head it self, as it were with a continued beaming, every Impression by the stroke of the Eye gets sooner from one bound to the other; yet the Character of the Object, is conveyed by the like Motion of their Neighbors, and as it were by a certain waving, even to the streaked Bodies.
*Hence it follows, that for the Act of Sension, these two things are required. First, That the sensible Species be expressed, so as it may be impressed on the Sensory: And Secondly, That the Idea of the same Impression, be carried thence, by a like Affection and Motion, by the Spirits flowing in the intermediate passages, to the Common Sensory; for otherwise Sension is not performed, as it appears, when being intent on other things, we take not any notice of any Objects, thô they approach near to the Eyes, or the other Organs.
But here we may have a Cause of Doubting, how the manifold Species of sensible things, for the receiving of which, many Organs, and those diversly framed, are re∣quired; do all come together within, and are discerned in the same Common Sensory; For it is a wonderful thing, that the same streaked Body, consisting of a make not much unlike, should admit, and know distinctly in it self, the universal Idea's of Objects. As to this we may say, that the Images of things to be perceived by the Sense, are not di∣stinctly painted in the Common Sensory, as on a Table; but every Impression there shown, depends on the Motion, as it were by a certain waving, of some Spirits separate from others, and within these or those peculiar Tracts of them▪ Nor is it irrational to affirm, that some Spiritual Particles are moved within the Hypostasis of the Sensitive Soul, and her the same Portion of it, whil'st others lye quiet, lying between them; for it plainly appears, and which afterwards is more largely shown, that within the Body of the Air,* the lucid Particles are agitated, whil'st the rest lye at ease; yea also, that Sonorifick, yea and odorous little Bodies, and perhaps many others of another Kind, are moved by a distinct and peculiar Agitation apart by themselves, from the other texture of the Air; for both Images pass thorow, Sounds are poured out, Odors flow, warm or cold Effluvia's, and other little Bodies are variously carried; yet notwithstanding, others in the mean time are neither driven by force by some others, nor is the Consi∣stency of the whole Air disturbed by some Singulars. Yea, various Impressions, not on∣ly pass thorow the Air unchanged,* but also the Superficies of the Water; for we have observed in a River, or a Fish-pond, when many wavings have been stirr'd up, by va∣rious and divers strokes together, that all of them, however they meet one another, pass thorow, or cut one another, continue still distinct, and inconfused; why then may we not suppose, that in the Airy Systasis of the Soul, (which is also is founded in a Watry Humor) there are Particles of a various and unlike make, and that manifold Species, by Page 59 their passing thorow, may be at once brought to the Common Sensory, without Con∣fusion? As for Example,* Suppose that for seeing most Subtil and as it were Aetherial Particles, others almost Saline and notably moveable for the Hearing, and so for the other Senses, Spirits endowed after this or that manner, to be interwoven together, and every peculiar Sension to be produced, by a particular affection of them; to which it happens, that for the various passing thorow of the Spirits of so diverse a Nature, divers Tracts or Paths are produced, both in the Organ it self, and in the Common Sensory: and so,* when the Animal Spirits are affected, which are of this or that Nature apart from others, which are of another Nature, and as there are beamings forth of several kinds, as it were within various Inlets or Passages; 'tis no wonder, if in divers Organs▪ distinct Acts of Sensions are performed; and that all of them, however different in Kind, and coming together from many ways, are shewn within the same Common Sen∣sory, to wit, the streaked Bodies; because in this Marrowy Part, Spirits of every kind abound, and also passages of every sort of Conformation are found; therefore, every Impression impressed on any Organ from without, may be distinctly represented in this same Body. That it is so, it more clearly appears from hence, because both the streaked Bodies, and the way leading to these, consist of many white Ligatures, which seem as so many soft Nerves, or marrowy Tracts, for the divers ways of receiving the Impressions of sensible Species.
When a sensible Impression is brought through the Animal Spirits,* being affected by a continued Series, from the Organ to the Common Sensory, if it be light it is there terminated, and the perception of the External Sense quickly vanishes, without any other Affection; but if (which more often happens) the impulse of the Object be stronger, the Sense excited from thence, like the vehement waving of waters in a Whirl-pool, both partly passes thorow the streaked Bodies, and going forward to the Callous Body, it oftentimes raises up two other Internal Senses, to wit, the Imagination and Memory, either one of both of them; and also is partly reflected from them, and from thence, by a declining of the Spirits, leaping into the Nerves, local Motions are made.
For indeed Impressions of sensible things,* from the beginning, furnish both the Ima∣gination, with the Memory and Appetite, and induce the first attempts of local Mo∣tions. It is first effected, for as much as the sensible Impulse, is often propagated beyond the streaked Body, into the marrowy part of the Brain, or the Cortex, or the extream Confines of it. But local Motions ordinarily succeed to Sension, for as much as the Ani∣mal Spirits being struck back from the bolt or stay of the streaked Bodies, spring up out∣wardly, and as they enter these or those Nerves, by a certain Consequence, or by chance, they excite fortuitous local Motions, or depending on the previous Sense; for in the re∣ciprocal exercise of these Faculties, to wit, of Sense and local Motion, (before Animals are imbued with Phantasie and Memory) almost the whole Animal Function consists; be∣cause Brutes or Men, whil'st they as yet know not things, want Spontaneous Appetite. So long therefore, they being destitute of the Internal Principle of Motion, move them∣selves or Members, only as they are excited from the impulse of the External Object, and so Sension preceding Motion, is in some manner the Cause of it.
Therefore in every Sension,* the Animal Spirits are moved; and their Motion being excited, in the utmost Sensory, from the approach of the Object, and harmonised accor∣ding to its Impression, turns inwards, and (as hath been said) is conveyed to the first or Common Sensory: wherefore it is not to be thought, that the little Body's sent from the Object, do penetrate deeply, and enter the inward parts of the Brain it self (as some have asserted); but it suffices, that they being cast forth like Darts from the sensible thing, do affect the Spirits placed in the fore-front; and then, they from thence most swiftly pass thorow, by their Irradiation, the impressed Motion. As to the Parts, with∣in which the Animal Spirits dwelling, do carry thorow, as it were by Pipes and Dioptrick Glasses, the impressed Species of sensible things; they are the Fibres, Nerves, and the Oblong Marrow,* and chiefly the tops of it, to wit, the streaked Bodies. The Fibres being stretched forth in every Sensory, as it were Nets spread abroad, take the Particles of the Object, diffused and entring here and there, from which, whil'st the Spirits im∣planted in those Fibres, are affected, and are marked with the type of shaddow of the Objected thing, forthwith the same Character being expressed, by a continued Series of Spirits, passes forward, thorow the little Pipes of the Nerves, and the Medullary Trunk, into the streaked Bodies, and is there represented as upon a white well; But the Rational Soul, easily beholds the Image of the thing there painted; or perhaps car∣ried forward beyond into the Callous Body, the Imagination and Phantasie being excited, But after what manner Brutes perceive themselves to feel, and by reason of that Sension, they either imprint it in their Memory, or draw forth the Acts of the Appetite, we have shewn elsewhere.
Page 60*Concerning the number of the outward Senses, we shall not recede from the vulgar Opinion, affirming them to be Five; for althô in some imperfect Animals, perhaps one Sense or two are only found; and thô it may seem, that the more perfect living Creatures may exercise many more than Five; because it is possible, that the Kinds of sensible things, far exceed that Number; yet it is seen, that those Five Organs of the Senses do abundantly enough supply the wants of all living Creatures: at least it seems good to the great Creator, not to grant to Man more than these, nor perhaps better than brute Beasts have obtained:* Hence we may argue, that whereas the first Notions of all Sim∣ple things, are acquired only by the showing of the Sense, and that Man, notwithstand∣ing, is wont from thence to form Complicated Orations and Discourses, beyond what Brutes are able to do, that this is done by the Virtue and Operation of the Rational Soul in him, of which indeed Beasts are wholly destitute.
As to the Order or Method, by which we should treat of the Senses, particularly to be consider'd, if their worth or dignity be respected, it is confessed by all, that Seeing, and then Hearing should by right have the Prerogative; but indeed, because Knowledge more easily, and always more happily, proceeds from more Known things, to things less Known; therefore, I think to begin with the Touch or Feeling, as the most Com∣mon Sense; also for that the formal Reason of which seems to be most easily unfolded.