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第4章

on the motion of animals-第4章

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its elbow…joint would be situate the original seat of the moving soul。



Since; however; it is possible for a lifeless thing to be so related



to the hand as the forearm is to the upper (for example; when a man



moves a stick in his hand); it is evident that the soul; the



original of movement; could not lie in either of the two extreme



points; neither; that is; in the last point of the stick which is



moved; nor in the original point which causes movement。 For the



stick too has an end point and an originative point by reference to



the hand。 Accordingly; this example shows that the moving original



which derives from the soul is not in the stick and if not; then not



in the hand; for a precisely similar relation obtains between the hand



and the wrist; as between the wrist and the elbow。 In this matter it



makes no difference whether the part is a continuous part of the



body or not; the stick may be looked at as a detached part of the



whole。 It follows then of necessity that the original cannot lie in



any individual origin which is the end of another member; even



though there may lie another part outside the one in question。 For



example; relatively to the end point of the stick the hand is the



original; but the original of the hand's movement is in the wrist。 And



so if the true original is not in the hand; be…there is still



something higher up; neither is the true original in the wrist; for



once more if the elbow is at rest the whole part below it can be moved



as a continuous whole。



                                 9







  Now since the left and the right sides are symmetrical; and these



opposites are moved simultaneously; it cannot be that the left is



moved by the right remaining stationary; nor vice versa; the



original must always be in what lies above both。 Therefore; the



original seat of the moving soul must be in that which lies in the



middle; for of both extremes the middle is the limiting point; and



this is similarly related to the movements from above 'and below;'



those that is from the head; and to the bones which spring from the



spinal column; in creatures that have a spinal column。



  And this is a reasonable arrangement。 For the sensorium is in our



opinion in the centre too; and so; if the region of the original of



movement is altered in structure through sense…perception and thus



changes; it carries with it the parts that depend upon it and they too



are extended or contracted; and in this way the movement of the



creature necessarily follows。 And the middle of the body must needs be



in potency one but in action more than one; for the limbs are moved



simultaneously from the original seat of movement; and when one is



at rest the other is moved。 For example; in the line BAC; B is



moved; and A is the mover。 There must; however; be a point at rest



if one is to move; the other to be moved。 A (AE) then being one in



potency must be two in action; and so be a definite spatial



magnitude not a mathematical point。 Again; C may be moved



simultaneously with B。 Both the originals then in A must move and



be; and so there must be something other than them which moves but



is not moved。 For otherwise; when the movement begins; the extremes;



i。e。 the originals; in A would rest upon one another; like two men



putting themselves back to back and so moving their legs。 There must



then be some one thing which moves both。 This something is the soul;



distinct from the spatial magnitude just described and yet located



therein。



                                10







  Although from the point of view of the definition of movement… a



definition which gives the cause… desire is the middle term or



cause; and desire moves being moved; still in the material animated



body there must be some material which itself moves being moved。 Now



that which is moved; but whose nature is not to initiate movement;



is capable of being passive to an external force; while that which



initiates movement must needs possess a kind of force and power。 Now



experience shows us that animals do both possess connatural spirit and



derive power from this。 (How this connatural spirit is maintained in



the body is explained in other passages of our works。) And this spirit



appears to stand to the soul…centre or original in a relation



analogous to that between the point in a joint which moves being moved



and the unmoved。 Now since this centre is for some animals in the



heart; in the rest in a part analogous with the heart; we further



see the reason for the connatural spirit being situate where it



actually is found。 The question whether the spirit remains always



the same or constantly changes and is renewed; like the cognate



question about the rest of the parts of the body; is better postponed。



At all events we see that it is well disposed to excite movement and



to exert power; and the functions of movement are thrusting and



pulling。 Accordingly; the organ of movement must be capable of



expanding and contracting; and this is precisely the characteristic of



spirit。 It contracts and expands naturally; and so is able to pull and



to thrust from one and the same cause; exhibiting gravity compared



with the fiery element; and levity by comparison with the opposites of



fire。 Now that which is to initiate movement without change of



structure must be of the kind described; for the elementary bodies



prevail over one another in a compound body by dint of



disproportion; the light is overcome and kept down by the heavier; and



the heavy kept up by the lighter。



  We have now explained what the part is which is moved when the



soul originates movement in the body; and what is the reason for this。



And the animal organism must be conceived after the similitude of a



well…governed commonwealth。 When order is once established in it there



is no more need of a separate monarch to preside over each several



task。 The individuals each play their assigned part as it is



ordered; and one thing follows another in its accustomed order。 So



in animals there is the same orderliness… nature taking the place of



custom… and each part naturally doing his own work as nature has



composed them。 There is no need then of a soul in each part; but she



resides in a kind of central governing place of the body; and the



remaining parts live by continuity of natural structure; and play



the parts Nature would have them play。



                                11







  So much then for the voluntary movements of animal bodies; and the



reasons for them。 These bodies; however; display in certain members



involuntary movements too; but most often non…voluntary movements。



By involuntary I mean motions of the heart and of the privy member;



for often upon an image arising and without express mandate of the



reason these parts are moved。 By non…voluntary I mean sleep and waking



and respiration; and other similar organic movements。 For neither



imagination nor desire is properly mistress of any of these; but since



the animal body must undergo natural changes of quality; and when



the parts are so altered some must increase and other decrease; the



body must straightway be moved and change with the changes that nature



makes dependent upon one another。 Now the causes of the movements



are natural changes of temperature; both those coming from outside the



body; and those taking place within it。 So the involuntary movements



which occur in spite of reason in the aforesaid parts occur when a



change of quality supervenes。 For conception and imagination; as we



said above; produce the conditions necessary to affections; since they



bring to bear the images or forms which tend to create these states。



And the two parts aforesaid display this motion more conspicuously



than the rest; because each is i

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