A discourse of the knowledg of beasts,: wherein all that hath been said for, and against their ratiocination, is examined. / By Monsieur de la Chambre, counsellor to the King of France in his counsels, and his physitian in ordinary. Translated into English by a person of quality.

Title

A discourse of the knowledg of beasts,: wherein all that hath been said for, and against their ratiocination, is examined. / By Monsieur de la Chambre, counsellor to the King of France in his counsels, and his physitian in ordinary. Translated into English by a person of quality.

Author

La Chambre, Marin Cureau de, 1594-1669.

Publication

London :: Printed by Tho. Newcomb for Humphrey Moseley at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-Yard,

1657 [i.e. 1658]

Rights/Permissions

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Subject terms

Animal intelligence

Zoology

Chanet, Pierre. -- De l'instinct et de la connoissance des animaux

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/a87905.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"A discourse of the knowledg of beasts,: wherein all that hath been said for, and against their ratiocination, is examined. / By Monsieur de la Chambre, counsellor to the King of France in his counsels, and his physitian in ordinary. Translated into English by a person of quality." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/a87905.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 5, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• To the READER.
• A DISCOURSE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF ANIMALS.
• That the Imagination forms the Images of things. And that its there wherein the first Knowledge consists.
  • CHAP. I. That the Pefection of things is begun in those which are inferiour to them.
  • CHAP. II. That Knowledge is an Action and a Producti∣on of Images.
    • The sensible Species enter not the Memory.
    • The Images which the Imagination forms, are different from those which pass from the Objects, as those are of the Ʋnderstanding.
  • CHAP. III. The Imagination represents not only the Accident, but also their Subject.
    • The Imagination represents things all entire.
    • The Nature of the Imagination is altogether Representative.
• That the Imagination can unite or divide the Images it hath formed.
  • CHAP. I. That the Imagination makes Affirmative Propositions.
    • Whence the confusion of Thoughts comes in Dreams and in Sickness.
    • The Imagination can add an Est and a Non est to the Terms it unites.
    • The Imagination may add Images to those of its Object.
  • CHAP. II. That the Imagination can make Nega∣tive Propositions.
    • How the Negation may be represented by the Imagination.
    • How Beasts judge of Things.
• That the Imagination can unite divers Propsitions, And out of them make Discourses.
  • CHAP. I. An Examen of the Reasons which M. C. hath produced against the Syllogism we used for an example of the Reasoning of Beasts.
    • That there is somewhat in the Conclusion of this Syllogism which is not in the An∣tecedent.
    • That one may Reason in a moment:
    • That the Ʋnderstanding supposeth Ratiocination.
    • That sweetness cannot move the Appetite untill the Imagination hath judged it good.
  • CHAP. II. Examination of the Objections M. C. hath made against the first of our Experi∣ences.
    • Wherein Ratiocination consists, and what the Action is which the Soul doth in reasoning.
  • CHAP. III. The Examen of what M. C. hath said against the second Experience which we proposed, Touching the wiles of Beasts.
  • CHAP. IV. The Examen of what M. C. hath said against our third Experience drawn from the Custom and the Instruction of Beasts.
    • Beasts hope for things to come.
    • Beasts fear the evill to come.
    • How we are frighted with present objects.
    • How past dangers trouble the Mind.
    • How Beasts know the differences of time.
    • The Imagination may know the Time to come.
    • Time is amongst sensible Objects.
    • That the Imagination hath Images, of which the Senses give it no Knowledge.
    • How the knowledge of Time is reserved to the Ʋnderstanding.
    • To wit, whether without Ratiocination the Images of the Memory move the Imagination as if the objects were present.
    • Of Custom, and that it cannot be acquired without Reason.
    • To wit, whether Memory is necessary to all sorts of Habits.
    • To wit, Whether one may accustom ones self to some things without Reasoning.
  • CHAP. V. Examen of M. C. Objections against our last proof of the Reasoning of Beasts.
    • To wit, Whether Animals doubt.
    • It follows not that Beasts Deliberate because they Doubt.
• Answers to those Objections made against the Reason of Beasts.
  • CHAP. I. The First OBIECTION. Of the difference there is betwixt the Un∣derstanding and the Imagination.
    • The first difference which there is betwixt the Ʋn∣derstanding and the Imagination.
    • The second Difference which is betwixt the Ʋn∣derstanding and the Imagination.
    • That Reason in general is not the specifick differ∣ence of Man.
    • Whether general Knowledges are more confused then the particular?
  • CHAP. II. The Second OBIECTION. Of the Deliberation which accompanies Ra∣tiocination.
    • Whether one can Deliberate when there is but one mean.
    • Whether Ratiocination be onely to clear doubt∣ful things.
    • That we cannot apply the Means to the End with∣out Ratiocination.
    • Beasts know the End and the Means.
  • CHAP. III. The Third OBIECTION. Of the Language of Beasts.
    • Beasts communicate Thoughts.
    • Speech is an Articulate Voyce.
    • Wherein the Articulation of the Voyce consists.
    • That the Voice of Beasts is made with design and in∣tention to express their Thoughts.
    • Whether dumb persons speak, and how.
    • Since Beasts Speak, they must needs Reason.
    • Beasts which run to the cry of others, know it to be a means to call them.