ON THE VITAL PRINCIPLE - Complete (Books I. to III.)
Scanned, proofed and corrected from the original edition for your reading pleasure. (Worth every penny!)
***
An excerpt from the:
INTRODUCTION
As this treatise may interest some who have never considered the subject for the elucidation of which it was composed, it will be well to offer a summary of that which Aristotle had undertaken to delineate, and to give, at the same time, an epitome of the opinions which, in modern times, have been entertained concerning it.
It is then that principle, which, inherent in genial matter, establishes functions distinctive of animated beings; and those functions are nutrition, and, through nutrition, growth or development, within a certain prescribed range, and absorption or rather change wrought by absorption, that is, decay. These two functions constitute, in fact, animated beings, and distinguish them broadly from whatever is inanimate; and as those functions are inherent in the simplest forms of being, it is in such that we might expect to find a clue to the nature of that something which, whether entity or mere quality, confers upon living matter its distinctive properties. But whether we examine a seed before development, or watch the rudimental forms of life, that something lies shrouded in matter which, although to appearance inanimate, is yet, through its influence, under genial conditions, capable of developing into a perfect being; and of resisting, for a stated time, the agency of surrounding elements. Thus, growth and development with their antagonisms absorption and decay, effected through the actions of the material framework of living beings, constitute, essentially, life; and the subject of this essay is that something which gives to matter those attributes. The processes, then, of reproduction, growth, and decay, that is, generation, life, and death, are the essential characteristics of living beings, and conferred upon them, as has been said, by that something which is designated Vital Principle.
Now, to homogeneous forms and solitary functions others of more complex nature are superadded, and these give rise to that long chain of being of which man may be regarded as the head; but yet, amid all the simplicity of organs, of action, and of reaction, those two functions still prevail, and constitute life, whatever the type of being, in its strictest signification. This is the teaching of Aristotle, as it is the doctrine of modern physiologists; and those functions are always here referred to as the essential conditions of whatever is animated, although, for higher forms of being, other organs and functions are required. The nature, however, of the essence or principle which originates and orders those living functions is hitherto for us, as it was for Aristotle, inscrutable; and it may be that the wide survey which he took of life, by complicating simple functions with sentient and even intellectual faculties, tended only to disturb and pervert the course of his inquiry. But whether Aristotle's mode of inquiry was or not faulty, and whether the principle which animates the world (it may be the universe) is or not among those causes which are inscrutable, it will be ever a topic of deep interest to the learned and the thoughtful of every age.
In an opening chapter, Aristotle has in so clear and succinct a manner reviewed the prevailing doctrines and opinions as well of his own as of a preceding age, that that summary may be regarded as the exposition of all that was then most authoritative; and as, from that time, physiology may be said to have declined, it would be almost supererogatory to allude to any other writer before the rise of modern science. It may be mentioned, however, in deference to the name, that Cicero has alluded, with a just appreciation of Aristotle's superiority, to this treatise; but as the topic was foreign to his pursuits and little in accordance with his talents, we cannot be surprised if he mistook the scope of the design, and perverted thereby the tendency of the argument.
This treatise is, it may be added, both an introduction and a sequel to the other physiological treatises of Aristotle; and, as it treats of all the characteristics of living beings, it may contribute to a clearer understanding of them, as they, in their turn, may serve to elucidate it; for they all proceed from the same hand, maintain the same doctrines, and emanate from the same laborious and original intellect.
1029713972
***
An excerpt from the:
INTRODUCTION
As this treatise may interest some who have never considered the subject for the elucidation of which it was composed, it will be well to offer a summary of that which Aristotle had undertaken to delineate, and to give, at the same time, an epitome of the opinions which, in modern times, have been entertained concerning it.
It is then that principle, which, inherent in genial matter, establishes functions distinctive of animated beings; and those functions are nutrition, and, through nutrition, growth or development, within a certain prescribed range, and absorption or rather change wrought by absorption, that is, decay. These two functions constitute, in fact, animated beings, and distinguish them broadly from whatever is inanimate; and as those functions are inherent in the simplest forms of being, it is in such that we might expect to find a clue to the nature of that something which, whether entity or mere quality, confers upon living matter its distinctive properties. But whether we examine a seed before development, or watch the rudimental forms of life, that something lies shrouded in matter which, although to appearance inanimate, is yet, through its influence, under genial conditions, capable of developing into a perfect being; and of resisting, for a stated time, the agency of surrounding elements. Thus, growth and development with their antagonisms absorption and decay, effected through the actions of the material framework of living beings, constitute, essentially, life; and the subject of this essay is that something which gives to matter those attributes. The processes, then, of reproduction, growth, and decay, that is, generation, life, and death, are the essential characteristics of living beings, and conferred upon them, as has been said, by that something which is designated Vital Principle.
Now, to homogeneous forms and solitary functions others of more complex nature are superadded, and these give rise to that long chain of being of which man may be regarded as the head; but yet, amid all the simplicity of organs, of action, and of reaction, those two functions still prevail, and constitute life, whatever the type of being, in its strictest signification. This is the teaching of Aristotle, as it is the doctrine of modern physiologists; and those functions are always here referred to as the essential conditions of whatever is animated, although, for higher forms of being, other organs and functions are required. The nature, however, of the essence or principle which originates and orders those living functions is hitherto for us, as it was for Aristotle, inscrutable; and it may be that the wide survey which he took of life, by complicating simple functions with sentient and even intellectual faculties, tended only to disturb and pervert the course of his inquiry. But whether Aristotle's mode of inquiry was or not faulty, and whether the principle which animates the world (it may be the universe) is or not among those causes which are inscrutable, it will be ever a topic of deep interest to the learned and the thoughtful of every age.
In an opening chapter, Aristotle has in so clear and succinct a manner reviewed the prevailing doctrines and opinions as well of his own as of a preceding age, that that summary may be regarded as the exposition of all that was then most authoritative; and as, from that time, physiology may be said to have declined, it would be almost supererogatory to allude to any other writer before the rise of modern science. It may be mentioned, however, in deference to the name, that Cicero has alluded, with a just appreciation of Aristotle's superiority, to this treatise; but as the topic was foreign to his pursuits and little in accordance with his talents, we cannot be surprised if he mistook the scope of the design, and perverted thereby the tendency of the argument.
This treatise is, it may be added, both an introduction and a sequel to the other physiological treatises of Aristotle; and, as it treats of all the characteristics of living beings, it may contribute to a clearer understanding of them, as they, in their turn, may serve to elucidate it; for they all proceed from the same hand, maintain the same doctrines, and emanate from the same laborious and original intellect.
ON THE VITAL PRINCIPLE - Complete (Books I. to III.)
Scanned, proofed and corrected from the original edition for your reading pleasure. (Worth every penny!)
***
An excerpt from the:
INTRODUCTION
As this treatise may interest some who have never considered the subject for the elucidation of which it was composed, it will be well to offer a summary of that which Aristotle had undertaken to delineate, and to give, at the same time, an epitome of the opinions which, in modern times, have been entertained concerning it.
It is then that principle, which, inherent in genial matter, establishes functions distinctive of animated beings; and those functions are nutrition, and, through nutrition, growth or development, within a certain prescribed range, and absorption or rather change wrought by absorption, that is, decay. These two functions constitute, in fact, animated beings, and distinguish them broadly from whatever is inanimate; and as those functions are inherent in the simplest forms of being, it is in such that we might expect to find a clue to the nature of that something which, whether entity or mere quality, confers upon living matter its distinctive properties. But whether we examine a seed before development, or watch the rudimental forms of life, that something lies shrouded in matter which, although to appearance inanimate, is yet, through its influence, under genial conditions, capable of developing into a perfect being; and of resisting, for a stated time, the agency of surrounding elements. Thus, growth and development with their antagonisms absorption and decay, effected through the actions of the material framework of living beings, constitute, essentially, life; and the subject of this essay is that something which gives to matter those attributes. The processes, then, of reproduction, growth, and decay, that is, generation, life, and death, are the essential characteristics of living beings, and conferred upon them, as has been said, by that something which is designated Vital Principle.
Now, to homogeneous forms and solitary functions others of more complex nature are superadded, and these give rise to that long chain of being of which man may be regarded as the head; but yet, amid all the simplicity of organs, of action, and of reaction, those two functions still prevail, and constitute life, whatever the type of being, in its strictest signification. This is the teaching of Aristotle, as it is the doctrine of modern physiologists; and those functions are always here referred to as the essential conditions of whatever is animated, although, for higher forms of being, other organs and functions are required. The nature, however, of the essence or principle which originates and orders those living functions is hitherto for us, as it was for Aristotle, inscrutable; and it may be that the wide survey which he took of life, by complicating simple functions with sentient and even intellectual faculties, tended only to disturb and pervert the course of his inquiry. But whether Aristotle's mode of inquiry was or not faulty, and whether the principle which animates the world (it may be the universe) is or not among those causes which are inscrutable, it will be ever a topic of deep interest to the learned and the thoughtful of every age.
In an opening chapter, Aristotle has in so clear and succinct a manner reviewed the prevailing doctrines and opinions as well of his own as of a preceding age, that that summary may be regarded as the exposition of all that was then most authoritative; and as, from that time, physiology may be said to have declined, it would be almost supererogatory to allude to any other writer before the rise of modern science. It may be mentioned, however, in deference to the name, that Cicero has alluded, with a just appreciation of Aristotle's superiority, to this treatise; but as the topic was foreign to his pursuits and little in accordance with his talents, we cannot be surprised if he mistook the scope of the design, and perverted thereby the tendency of the argument.
This treatise is, it may be added, both an introduction and a sequel to the other physiological treatises of Aristotle; and, as it treats of all the characteristics of living beings, it may contribute to a clearer understanding of them, as they, in their turn, may serve to elucidate it; for they all proceed from the same hand, maintain the same doctrines, and emanate from the same laborious and original intellect.
***
An excerpt from the:
INTRODUCTION
As this treatise may interest some who have never considered the subject for the elucidation of which it was composed, it will be well to offer a summary of that which Aristotle had undertaken to delineate, and to give, at the same time, an epitome of the opinions which, in modern times, have been entertained concerning it.
It is then that principle, which, inherent in genial matter, establishes functions distinctive of animated beings; and those functions are nutrition, and, through nutrition, growth or development, within a certain prescribed range, and absorption or rather change wrought by absorption, that is, decay. These two functions constitute, in fact, animated beings, and distinguish them broadly from whatever is inanimate; and as those functions are inherent in the simplest forms of being, it is in such that we might expect to find a clue to the nature of that something which, whether entity or mere quality, confers upon living matter its distinctive properties. But whether we examine a seed before development, or watch the rudimental forms of life, that something lies shrouded in matter which, although to appearance inanimate, is yet, through its influence, under genial conditions, capable of developing into a perfect being; and of resisting, for a stated time, the agency of surrounding elements. Thus, growth and development with their antagonisms absorption and decay, effected through the actions of the material framework of living beings, constitute, essentially, life; and the subject of this essay is that something which gives to matter those attributes. The processes, then, of reproduction, growth, and decay, that is, generation, life, and death, are the essential characteristics of living beings, and conferred upon them, as has been said, by that something which is designated Vital Principle.
Now, to homogeneous forms and solitary functions others of more complex nature are superadded, and these give rise to that long chain of being of which man may be regarded as the head; but yet, amid all the simplicity of organs, of action, and of reaction, those two functions still prevail, and constitute life, whatever the type of being, in its strictest signification. This is the teaching of Aristotle, as it is the doctrine of modern physiologists; and those functions are always here referred to as the essential conditions of whatever is animated, although, for higher forms of being, other organs and functions are required. The nature, however, of the essence or principle which originates and orders those living functions is hitherto for us, as it was for Aristotle, inscrutable; and it may be that the wide survey which he took of life, by complicating simple functions with sentient and even intellectual faculties, tended only to disturb and pervert the course of his inquiry. But whether Aristotle's mode of inquiry was or not faulty, and whether the principle which animates the world (it may be the universe) is or not among those causes which are inscrutable, it will be ever a topic of deep interest to the learned and the thoughtful of every age.
In an opening chapter, Aristotle has in so clear and succinct a manner reviewed the prevailing doctrines and opinions as well of his own as of a preceding age, that that summary may be regarded as the exposition of all that was then most authoritative; and as, from that time, physiology may be said to have declined, it would be almost supererogatory to allude to any other writer before the rise of modern science. It may be mentioned, however, in deference to the name, that Cicero has alluded, with a just appreciation of Aristotle's superiority, to this treatise; but as the topic was foreign to his pursuits and little in accordance with his talents, we cannot be surprised if he mistook the scope of the design, and perverted thereby the tendency of the argument.
This treatise is, it may be added, both an introduction and a sequel to the other physiological treatises of Aristotle; and, as it treats of all the characteristics of living beings, it may contribute to a clearer understanding of them, as they, in their turn, may serve to elucidate it; for they all proceed from the same hand, maintain the same doctrines, and emanate from the same laborious and original intellect.
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ON THE VITAL PRINCIPLE - Complete (Books I. to III.)
ON THE VITAL PRINCIPLE - Complete (Books I. to III.)
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940012086471 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | OGB |
| Publication date: | 01/19/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 460 KB |
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