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continue its motion; and the angle made by the line  of motion in



the recoil and the plane of the body at rest; whereon the moving



body has  impinged; will be equal to the angle formed by the line



of motion of incidence and the  same plane。







So far we have been speaking only of the most simple bodies;



which are only distinguished  one from the other by motion and



rest; quickness and slowness。  We now pass on to  compound



bodies。







DefinitionWhen any given bodies of the same or different



magnitude are compelled by  other bodies to remain in contact; or



if they be moved at the same or different rates of  speed; so



that their mutual movements should preserve among themselves a



certain fixed  relation; we say that such bodies are 'in union;'



and that together they compose one body  or individual; which is



distinguished from other bodies by the fact of this union。







…Axiom IIIIn proportion as the parts of an individual; or



a compound body; are in  contact over a greater or less



superficies; they will with greater or less difficulty admit of 



being moved from their position; consequently the individual



will; with greater or less  difficulty; be brought to assume



another form。  Those bodies; whose parts are in contact  over



large superficies; are called 'hard;' those; whose parts are in



contact over small  superficies; are called 'soft;' those; whose



parts are in motion among one another; are  called 'fluid。'







Lemma IV。  If from a body or individual; compounded of several



bodies; certain bodies be  separated; and if; at the same time;



an equal number of other bodies of the same nature  take their



place; the individual will preserve its nature as before; without



any change in its  actuality (forma)。







》》》》》ProofBodies (Lemma i。) are not distinguished in respect of



substance:  that which  constitutes the actuality (formam) of an



individual consists (by the last Def。) in a union of  bodies; but



this union; although there is a continual change of bodies; will



(by our  hypothesis) be maintained; the individual; therefore;



will retain its nature as before; both in  respect of substance



and in respect of mode。  Q。E。D。







Lemma V。  If the parts composing an individual become greater or



less; but in such  proportion; that they all preserve the same



mutual relations of motion and rest; the  individual will still



preserve its original nature; and its actuality will not be



changed。







》》》》》ProofThe same as for the last Lemma。







Lemma VI。  If certain bodies composing an individual be compelled



to change the motion;  which they have in one direction; for



motion in another direction; but in such a manner;  that they be



able to continue their motions and their mutual communication in



the same  relations as before; the individual will retain its own



nature without any change of its  actuality。







》》》》》ProofThis proposition is self…evident; for the individual



is supposed to retain all  that; which; in its definition; we



spoke of as its actual being。







Lemma VII。  Furthermore; the individual thus composed preserves



its nature; whether it  be; as a whole; in motion or at rest;



whether it be moved in this or that direction; so long  as each



part retains its motion; and preserves its communication with



other parts as  before。







》》》》》ProofThis proposition is evident from the definition of an



individual prefixed to  Lemma iv。







*****NoteWe thus see; how a composite individual may be



affected in many different  ways; and preserve its nature



notwithstanding。  Thus far we have conceived an individual  as



composed of bodies only distinguished one from the other in



respect of motion and  rest; speed and slowness; that is; of



bodies of the most simple character。  If; however; we  now



conceive another individual composed of several individuals of



diverse natures; we  shall find that the number of ways in which



it can be affected; without losing its nature; will  be greatly



multiplied。  Each of its parts would consist of several bodies;



and therefore (by  Lemma vi。) each part would admit; without



change to its nature; of quicker or slower  motion; and would



consequently be able to transmit its motions more quickly or more



 slowly to the remaining parts。  If we further conceive a third



kind of individuals composed  of individuals of this second kind;



we shall find that they may be affected in a still greater 



number of ways without changing their actuality。  We may easily



proceed thus to infinity;  and conceive the whole of nature as



one individual; whose parts; that is; all bodies; vary in 



infinite ways; without any change in the individual as a whole。 



I should feel bound to  explain and demonstrate this point at



more length; if I were writing a special treatise on  body。  But



I have already said that such is not my object; I have only



touched on the  question; because it enables me to prove easily



that which I have in view。







POSTULATES I。  The human body is composed of a number of



individual parts; of diverse nature; each  one of which is in



itself extremely complex。







II。  Of the individual parts composing the human body some are



fluid; some soft; some  hard。







III。  The individual parts composing the human body; and



consequently the human body  itself; are affected in a variety of



ways by external bodies。







IV。  The human body stands in need for its preservation of a



number of other bodies; by  which it is continually; so to speak;



regenerated。







V。  When the fluid part of the human body is determined by an



external body to impinge  often on another soft part; it changes



the surface of the latter; and; as it were; leaves the 



impression thereupon of the external body which impels it。







VI。  The human body can move external bodies; and arrange them in



a variety of ways。







PROPOSITIONS XIV。  The human mind is capable of perceiving a



great number of things; and is so in   proportion as its body is



capable of receiving a great number of impressions。







》》》》》ProofThe human body (by Post。 iii。 and vi。) is affected in



very many ways by  external bodies; and is capable in very many



ways of affecting external bodies。  But (II。xii。)  the human mind



must perceive all that takes place in the human body; the human



mind is;  therefore; capable of perceiving a great number of



things; and is so in proportion; &c。   Q。E。D。







XV。  The idea; which constitutes the actual being of the human



mind; is not simple; but  compounded of a great number of ideas。







》》》》》ProofThe idea constituting the actual being of the human



mind is the idea of the  body (II。 xiii。); which (Post。 i。) is



composed of a great number of complex individual  parts。  But



there is necessarily in God the idea of each individual part



whereof the body is  composed (II。 viii。 Cor。); therefore (II。



vii。); the idea of the human body is composed of  each of these



numerous ideas of its component parts。  Q。E。D。







XVI。  The idea of every mode; in which the human body is



affected by external bodies;  must involve the nature of the



human body; and also the nature of the external body。







》》》》》ProofAll the modes; in which any given body is affected;



follow from the nature  of the body affected; and also from the



nature of the affecting body (by Ax。 i。; after the  Cor。 of Lemma



iii。); wherefore their idea is also necessarily (by I; Ax。 iv。)


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