A slight sketch of the controversy between Dr. Priestley and his opponents on the subject of his Disquisitions on matter and spirit / [Anon].

Samuel Badcock

Date:: [1780]

Credit: A slight sketch of the controversy between Dr. Priestley and his opponents on the subject of his Disquisitions on matter and spirit / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$\' , ' 1 ;' t 43 ] In an enquiry of this nature we fhoulu proceed with great caution, and admit nothing as a reafon, the fource of which is not evident to any one whole common fenfe leads him to refleX with care and dif- cernment. We obferve then a great variety in the abilities of different men. We obferve the fame variety take place in the brutal world. In many circumdances we fee brutes excel mankind in Lgacity. In fome circumdances, and amongfr fome animals, we dif- cern not only inftinXive fagacity, but a degree of reafon and refleXion improved, as in the human bread, by tuition and experience. If thefe reflexions occur to any one unenlightened by revelation, he wdl mod probably conclude, that both men and brutes poflefs a principle, though not equally im¬ proved nor equally improvable, yet of the fame ge¬ neral quality. He fees that this principle is mod in¬ timately connected with life. He fees its exidence only as it is conneXed with organized parts : and wii! have little reafon to conclude that it will fur- vive the diiTolutidn of thofe parts, or that it can exid independent of its original organization, and pre- ferve its identity and encreafe its powers as well witnout it as it did with it. Such a natural enquirer w$