NOTES.1
Gertrude Carman Bussey translation
NOTES.1
NOTE ON FREDERICK THE GREAT’S EULOGY.
This translation is made from the third volume, pp. 159 ff. of “Œuvres de Fréderic II., Roi de Prusse, Publiées du vivant de l’Auteur,” Berlin, 1789.
La Mettrie was received at the court of Frederick the Great, when he had been driven from Holland on account of the heretical teaching of “L’Homme Machine,” The “Eloge” was read by Darget, the secretary of the king, at a public meeting of the Academy of Berlin, to which, at the initiative of Frederick, La Mettrie had been admitted.
The careful reader will not fail to note that Frederick’s arithmetic is at fault, and that La Mettrie died at the age of forty-one, not forty-three, years.
At a few points, perhaps, the Eloge demands elucidation. Coutances, like Caen, is a Norman town. St. Malo lies, just over the border, in Brittany. La Mettrie’s military service was with the French in the Silesian wars against Maria Theresa. The battle of Dettingen was fought in Bavaria and was won by the Austrians through the aid given by George II of England to Maria Theresa. The battle of Fontenoy in the Netherlands was the only victory of the French in this war.
Other accounts of the life of La Mettrie are:
J. Assézat, Introduction to “L’Homme Machine,” Paris, 1865.
F. A. Lange, “History of Materialism.”
Ph. Damiron, “Histoire de la philosophie du dix-huitième siècle,” Paris, 1858.
N. Quépat, “La philosophie matérialiste au XVIIIe siècle. Essai sur La Mettrie, sa vie, et ses œuvres.” Paris, 1873.
NOTES ON MAN A MACHINE.
Bayle was one of the leading French sceptics of the time. He was a Cartesian, but questioned both the certainty of one’s own existence, and the knowledge derived from it. He declared that religion is contrary to the human reason, but that this fact does not necessarily destroy faith. He distinguished religion not only from science, but also from morality, and vigorously opposed those who considered a certain religion necessary for morality. He did not openly attack Christianity, yet all that he wrote awakened doubt, and his work exerted an extensive influence for scepticism.
His principal work is the “Dictionnaire historique et critique,” published 1695–1697, and containing a vast amount of knowledge, expressed in a piquant and popular style. This fact made the book widely read both by scholars and by superficial readers.
NOTES ON THE EXTRACTS FROM “L’HISTOIRE NATURELLE DE L’AME.”
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · “Author of the ‘Spectacle de la nature.’” Noel Antoine Pluche (1688–1761) was a Jansenist author. He was Director of the College of Laon, buNote 2 · Torricelli was a physicist and mathematician who lived from 1608 to 1647. He was a disciple of Galileo, and acted as his amanuensis for threNote 3 · “Only the physicians have a right to speak on this subject.” Luzac says: “’Tis true that if the materiality of the soul was proved, the knowNote 4 · “Man is ... a machine.” This is the first clear statement of this theory, which as the title of the work indicates, is the central doctrine Note 5 · “Let us then take in our hands the staff of experience.” La Mettrie repeatedly emphasizes the belief that knowledge must come from experiencNote 6 · “Galen (Galenus) Claudius, 130 to circa 210 A. D. An eminent Greek physician and philosopher. Born at Pergamus, Mysia, he studied both the PNote 7 · The author of “L’histoire de l’âme” is La Mettrie himself.Note 8 · Hippocrates is often termed the “father of medicine.” He was born in Cos in 460 B. C. He studied medicine under his father, Heraclides, and Note 9 · “The different combinations of these humors....” Compare this with Descartes’s statement that the difference in men comes from the differencNote 10 · “This drug intoxicates, like wine, coffee, etc., each in its own measure, and according to the dose.” Descartes also speaks of the effect ofNote 11 · The quotation from Pope is from the “Moral Essays,” published 1731 to 1735, Epistle I, 1, 69.Note 12 · Jan Baptista Van Helmont (1578–1644) was a Flemish physician and chemist. He is noted for having demonstrated the necessity of the balance iNote 13 · The author of “Lettres sur la physiognomie” was Jacques Pernety or Pernetti. He was born at Chazelle-sur-Lyon, was for some years canon at LNote 14 · Boerhaave. See Note 78.Note 15 · Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis (1698–1759) was a French mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. He supported the Newtonian theory agaiNote 16 · Luzac sums up the preceding facts by saying: “Here are a great many facts, but what is it they prove? only that the faculties of the soul arNote 17 · “The diverse states of the soul are therefore always correlative with those of the body.” This view is in diametrical opposition to the teacNote 18 · “Peyronie (François Gigot de la), a French surgeon, born in Montpellier, the fifteenth of January, 1678, died the twenty-fifth of April, 174Note 19 · “Willis, Thomas (1621–1675), English physician, was born at Great Bedwin, Wiltshire, on 27th January, 1621. He studied at Christ Church, OxfNote 20 · “Fontenelle, Bernard le Bovier de. Born at Rouen, France, February 11, 1657; died at Paris, January 9, 1757. A French advocate, philosopher,Note 21 · “In a word, would it be absolutely impossible to teach the ape a language? I do not think so.” Compare with this Haeckel’s statement of the Note 22 · Johann Conrad Amman was born at Schaffhausen, in Switzerland, in 1669. After his graduation at Basle, he practised medicine at Amsterdam. HeNote 23 · “... the great analogy between ape and man....” Compare Haeckel: “Thus comparative anatomy proves to the satisfaction of every unprejudiced Note 24 · Sir William Temple was born in London in 1628. He attended the Puritan College of Emmanuel, Cambridge, but left without taking his degree. ANote 25 · “Trembley (Abraham) a Swiss naturalist, born in Geneva, the third of September, 1700, died in Geneva, the twelfth of May, 1784. He was educaNote 26 · “What was man before the invention of words and the knowledge of language? An animal.” Compare this with the statement of Hobbes: “The most Note 27 · Fontenelle. See note 22.Note 28 · “All the faculties of the soul can be correctly reduced to pure imagination.” Compare with this La Mettrie’s statement in “L’histoire natureNote 29 · “See to what one is brought by the abuse of language, and by the use of those fine words (spirituality, immateriality, etc.).” Compare HobbeNote 30 · “Man’s preëminent advantage is his organism.” Luzac says: “This no more proves that organization is the chief merit of man, than that the foNote 31 · “Such is, I think, the generation of intelligence.” Luzac argues against this statement thus: “But if thought and all the faculties of the sNote 32 · Pyrrhonism is “the doctrine of Pyrrho of Elis which has been transmitted chiefly by his disciple Timon. More generally, radical Scepticism iNote 33 · Pierre Bayle was born at Carlat in 1647. Although the child of Protestant parents, he was converted by the Jesuits. After his reconversion tNote 34 · Arnobius the Elder was born at Sicca Venerea in Numidia, in the latter part of the third century A. D. He was at first an opponent of ChristNote 35 · “There exists no soul or sensitive substance without remorse.” Condillac had said: “There is something in animals besides motion. They are nNote 36 · “Nature has created us solely to be happy.” This is a statement of the doctrine, which La Mettrie develops in his principal ethical work “DiNote 37 · “Ixions of Christianity.” Ixion, for his treachery, stricken with madness, was cast into Erebus, where he was continually scourged while bouNote 38 · “Who can be sure that the reason for man’s existence is not simply the fact that he exists?” Luzac opposes this by saying: “If the reason ofNote 39 · “Fénelon (François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon), born at Château de Fénelon, Dordogne, France, August 6, 1651, died at Cambrai, France, Note 40 · “Nieuwentyt (Bernard), a Dutch mathematician, born in West-Graftdijk the tenth of August 1654, died at Purmerend the thirtieth of May, 1718.Note 41 · “Abadie, James (Jacques), born at Nay, Basse-Pyrénées, probably in 1654; died at London, September 25, 1725. A noted French Protestant theolNote 42 · “Derham (William), English theologian and scholar, born in Stoughton, near Worcester, in 1657, died at Upminster in 1735. Pastor of UpminsteNote 43 · Rais, or Cardinal de Retz (1614–1679), was a French politician and author. From his childhood he was intended for the church. He took an actNote 44 · Marcello Malpighi (1628–1694) was a renowned Italian anatomist and physiologist. He held the position of lecturer on medicine at Bologna in Note 45 · Deism is a system of thought which arose in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Its most important representatives in England were TNote 46 · “Vanini, Lucilio, self-styled Julius Cæsar. Born at Taurisano, kingdom of Naples, about 1585; burned at the stake at Toulouse, France, FebruNote 47 · Desbarreaux (Jacques Vallée). A French writer, born at Paris in 1602, who died at Chalon-sur-Saône the ninth of May, 1673. He wrote a celebrNote 48 · Boindin (Nicolas), French scholar and author, born the twenty-ninth of May 1676 at Paris, where he died the thirtieth of November 1751. He wNote 49 · Denis Diderot (1713–1784) was one of the leaders of the intellectual movement of the eighteenth century. He was at first influenced by ShaftNote 50 · Trembley. See note 27.Note 51 · “Nothing which happens, could have failed to happen.” An enunciation of the doctrine so insisted upon by Holbach. “The whole universe ... shNote 52 · “All these evidences of a creator, repeated thousands ... of times ... are self-evident only to the anti-Pyrrhonians.” La Mettrie holds an oNote 53 · “Lucretius (Titus Lucretius Carus). Born at Rome, probably about 96 B.C., died October 15, 55 B.C. A celebrated Roman philosophical poet. HeNote 54 · “Lamy (Bernard) was born in Mans in the year 1640. He studied first in the college of this city. He later went to Paris, and at Saumar studiNote 55 · “The eye sees only because it is formed and placed as it is.” La Mettrie doubts whether there is any purpose in the world. Condillac, on theNote 56 · “Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites.” Vergil, Eclogue III, line 108.Note 57 · “The universe will never be happy unless it is atheistic.” Although La Mettrie calls this a “strange opinion” it is clear that he secretly sNote 58 · “The soul is therefore but an empty word.” Contrast this with Descartes’s statement: “And certainly the idea I have of the human mind ... isNote 59 · William Cowper (1666–1709) was an English anatomist. He was drawn into a controversy with Bidloo, the Dutch physician, by publishing under hNote 60 · William Harvey (1578–1657), an English physician and physiologist, is renowned for his discovery of the circulation of the blood. He was eduNote 61 · Francis Bacon (1551–1626) was one of the first to revolt against scholasticism and to introduce a new method into science and philosophy. HeNote 62 · Robert Boyle, one of the greatest natural philosophers of his age, studied at Eton for three years, and then became the private pupil of theNote 63 · Nicolas Sténon was born at Copenhagen, 1631, and died at Schwerin in 1687. He studied at Leyden and Paris, and then settled in Florence, wheNote 64 · La Mettrie’s account of involuntary movements is much like that of Descartes. Descartes says: “If any one quickly passes his hand before ourNote 65 · “The brain has its muscles for thinking, as the legs have muscles for walking.” Neither Condillac nor Helvetius go so far. Helvetius expliciNote 66 · Giovanni Alfonso Borelli (1608–1670) was the head of the so-called iatro-mathematical sect. He tried to apply mathematics to medicine in theNote 67 · “For one order that the will gives, it bows a hundred times to the yoke.” Descartes, on the other hand, teaches that the soul has direct conNote 68 · The theory of animal spirits, held by Galen and elaborated by Descartes, is that the nerves are hollow tubes containing a volatile liquid, tNote 69 · Berkeley uses the fact that the color of objects varies, as one argument for his idealistic conclusion.87Note 70 · It is hard to tell what Pythagoras himself taught, but it is certain that he taught the kinship of animals and men, and upon this kinship hiNote 71 · Plato forbade the use of wine in his ideal republic.89Note 72 · “Nature’s first care, when the chyle enters the blood, is to excite in it a kind of fever.” Thus, warmth is the first necessity for the bodyNote 73 · “Stahl (George Ernst), born at Ansbach, Bavaria, October 21, 1660; died at Berlin, May 14, 1734. A noted German chemist, physician of the KiNote 74 · Philip Hecquet (1661–1737) was a celebrated French physician. He studied at Rheims, and in 1688 became the physician of the nuns of Port RoyNote 75 · The quotation: “All men may not go to Corinth,” is translated from Horace, Ep. 1, 19, 36. “Non cuivis homini contigit adire Corinthum.”Note 76 · Hermann Boerhaave was born at Voorhout near Leyden, on December 31, 1668. His father, who belonged to the clerical profession, destined his Note 77 · Willis. (See Note 21.)Note 78 · Claude Perrault (1613–1688) was a French physician and architect. He received his degree of doctor of medicine at Paris and practised mediciNote 79 · “Matter is self-moved.” In “L’histoire naturelle de l’âme” La Mettrie claims that motion is one of the essential properties of matter. See “Note 80 · “The nature of motion is as unknown to us as that of matter.” Unlike La Mettrie, Toland holds that it is possible to know the nature of mattNote 81 · Huyghens (Christian) was born at The Hague, 1629, and died there in 1695. He was a Dutch physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. He is celNote 82 · Julien Leroy (1686–1759) was a celebrated French watchmaker. He excelled in the construction of pendulums and of large clocks. Some have attNote 83 · Jacques de Vaucanson (1709–1782) was a French mechanist. From his childhood he was always interested in mechanical contrivances. In 1738 he Note 84 · “[Descartes] understood animal nature; he was the first to prove completely that animals are pure machines.” Contrast this with La Mettrie’sNote 85 · Matter, according to La Mettrie, is endowed with extensity, the power of movement, and the faculty of sensation. As La Mettrie says, this coNote 86 · La Mettrie always insists that matter has the power of moving itself, and resents any attempt to show that the motion is due to an outside aNote 87 · “This absurd system ... that animals are pure machines.” (See Note 86.)Note 88 · Page-references are to the editions cited on pp. 205–207, except references to “Man a Machine” which are to this translation. The translatedNote 89 · “Man More than a Machine,” pp. 10, 12. For statement of the editions to which these Notes make reference, see pp. 205–207. ↑Note 90 · Locke’s “Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” Book II. Chap. XXIII, § 15. ↑Note 91 · Ibid., § 31. ↑Note 92 · Condensed and translated from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 26. ↑Note 93 · Translated from a note of Assézat in “L’homme machine.” ↑Note 94 · Condensed and translated from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 4. ↑Note 95 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. XXIII. All references are to this edition. ↑Note 96 · “Man More than a Machine,” p. 5. ↑Note 97 · “Discourse on Method,” Part. V. ↑Note 98 · “Discourse on Method,” Part IV. ↑Note 99 · “Meditations,” II. ↑Note 100 · “Traité des sensations,” Part IV, Chap. IX, § 5. ↑Note 101 · “Système de la nature,” Vol. I, Chap. I. ↑Note 102 · Quoted from Baldwin’s Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, Vol. I. ↑Note 103 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. XI. ↑Note 104 · “Les passions de l’âme,” Part I, Art. XV, and Art. XXXIX. ↑Note 105 · Ibid., Part I, Art. XV. ↑Note 106 · Condensed from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 107 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 26. ↑Note 108 · Condensed from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 109 · “Man More than a Machine,” p. 23. ↑Note 110 · “Discourse on Method,” V, last paragraph. ↑Note 111 · “Système de la nature,” Vol. I, Chap. VII. ↑Note 112 · Translated from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 26. ↑Note 113 · Quoted from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. XXIV. ↑Note 114 · Quoted from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 115 · E. Haeckel, “The Riddle of the Universe,” Chap. III. ↑Note 116 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. I. ↑Note 117 · “The Riddle of the Universe,” Chap. II. ↑Note 118 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. XXIII. ↑Note 119 · Translated from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 31. ↑Note 120 · “Leviathan,” Part I, Chap. IV. ↑Note 121 · “L’histoire naturelle de l’âme,” Chap. XIV. p. 199. ↑Note 122 · “Traité des sensations,” p. 50. Cf. ibid., Chap. XII (2). ↑Note 123 · “Treatise on Man,” Sect. II, Chap. I, p. 4. Cf. “Essays on Mind,” Essay I, Chap. I, p. 7. ↑Note 124 · “Leviathan,” Part I, Chap. XII. ↑Note 125 · “Man More than a Machine,” p. 25. ↑Note 126 · Ibid., p. 26. ↑Note 127 · Quoted from Baldwin’s Dictionary of Philosophy, Vol. II. ↑Note 128 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. II. ↑Note 129 · “Traité des animaux,” Chap. I, p. 454. ↑Note 130 · “Man More than a Machine,” p. 65. ↑Note 131 · “L’histoire naturelle de l’âme,” Chap. X, § XII. ↑Note 132 · “Treatise on Man,” Chap. X. ↑Note 133 · Ibid., Chap. VII. ↑Note 134 · “Le vrai sens du système de la nature,” Chap. IX. ↑Note 135 · Ibid., Vol. I, Chap. VIII, p. 140. ↑Note 136 · “Man More than a Machine,” pp. 71 and 72. ↑Note 137 · Quoted from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 138 · Translated from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 24. ↑Note 139 · Quoted from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 140 · Translated from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 14. ↑Note 141 · Condensed from the Century Dictionary, Vol. X. ↑Note 142 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. XV. ↑Note 143 · Cf. A. W. Benn, “History of English Rationalism,” Vol. I, Chap. III. ↑Note 144 · Quoted from the Century Dictionary, Vol. X. ↑Note 145 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 14. ↑Note 146 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 7. ↑Note 147 · Condensed from F. A. Lange, “History of Materialism,” Vol. II, Chap. I, and from W. Windelband, “History of Philosophy,” Part V, Chap. I. ↑Note 148 · “Système de la nature,” Vol. I, Chap. I, p. 12. ↑Note 149 · Ibid., Vol. II, Chap. XI. Cf. Vol. I, Chap. VII. ↑Note 150 · “Meditations,” III and V. ↑Note 151 · “Leviathan,” Part I, Chap. XII. ↑Note 152 · “Letters to Serena,” V, p. 235. ↑Note 153 · “Traité des animaux,” Chap. VI, p. 585. ↑Note 154 · “Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” Book IV, Chap. X. ↑Note 155 · Quoted from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 156 · Translated and condensed from the Dictionnaire des Sciences philosophiques, Vol. III, Paris, 1847. ↑Note 157 · “Traité des animaux,” Chap. VI. ↑Note 158 · “Système de la nature,” Vol. II, Chap. XVI, p. 451. ↑Note 159 · Ibid., Chap. XXVI, p. 485. Cf. Luzac’s criticism in “Man More than a Machine,” p. 94. ↑Note 160 · “Meditations,” IV. ↑Note 161 · “Système de la nature,” Vol. I, Chap. VII, pp. 121–122. ↑Note 162 · Condensed and translated from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 13. ↑Note 163 · Condensed from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 164 · F. A. Lange, “History of Materialism,” Vol. I, Sec. II, Chap. III. ↑Note 165 · “Sylva Sylvarum sive Historia Naturalis Latio Transcripta a J. Gruteo.” Lug. Batavos, 1648. Cf. Bk. IV, Experiment 400. ↑Note 166 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. IV. ↑Note 167 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 30. ↑Note 168 · “Les passions de l’âme,” Part I, Art. 13. ↑Note 169 · “Essays on the Mind,” Essay I, Chap. I, pp. 4ff. ↑Note 170 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. IV. ↑Note 171 · “Les passions de l’âme,” Part I, Art. 41. ↑Note 172 · “L’histoire naturelle de l’âme,” Chap. XII, p. 164. Cf. Chap. XII, p. 167. ↑Note 173 · “Système de la nature,” Vol. I, Chap. VI, pp. 89ff. ↑Note 174 · “Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous,” I, Open Court edition; pp. 27, 28, 29. Cf. “Principles of Human Knowledge,” par. 10, 15. ↑Note 175 · Quoted from J. Burnet, “Early Greek Philosophy,” Chap. II. ↑Note 176 · Republic, III, 403. ↑Note 177 · “Les passions de l’âme,” Part I, Art. VIII. ↑Note 178 · Quoted from the Century Dictionary, Vol. X. ↑Note 179 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 19. ↑Note 180 · Condensed from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. III. ↑Note 181 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 26. ↑Note 182 · “Letters to Serena,” V. ↑Note 183 · “Système de la nature,” Vol. II, Chap. II, p. 32. ↑Note 184 · Condensed from the Century Dictionary, Vol. IX. ↑Note 185 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 22. ↑Note 186 · Translated and condensed from La Grande Encyclopédie, Vol. 31. ↑Note 187 · “L’histoire naturelle de l’âme,” Chap. VI. ↑Note 188 · “Principles of Metaphysics,” Part II, Prop. 4. ↑Note 189 · “De Corpore,” Part III, Chap. XV. ↑Note 190 · Ibid., Part IV, Chap. XXV, (2). ↑Note 191 · The possibility of matter being endowed with the faculty of thought, is denied by Elie Luzac, the publisher of “L’homme machine,” in his worNote 192 · La Mettrie describes Pluche in the “Essais sur l’esprit et les beaux esprits” thus: “Without wit, without taste, he is Rollin’s pedant. A suNote 193 · This quotation from La Mettrie occurs in Assézat’s edition of La Mettrie’s “L’homme machine,” which was published as the second volume of thNote 194 · This doctrine is opposed to the teaching of Descartes, who insists that “neither our imagination nor our senses can give us assurance of anyNote 195 · Holbach later emphasizes this close connection between body and soul, which is so insisted upon by La Mettrie. “If freed from our prejudicesNote 196 · Temple wrote several works on political subjects. His “Memoirs” were begun in 1682; the first part was destroyed before it was published, thNote 197 · Later, Diderot was influenced by La Mettrie and by Holbach, and became an advocate of materialism which he set forth in “Le rêve d’Alembert”Note 198 · Boyle was also deeply interested in theology. He gave liberally for the work of spreading Christianity in India and America, and by his willNote 199 · Boerhaave was a careful and brilliant student, an inspiring teacher, and a skilful practitioner. There are remarkable accounts of his skill