Main.DescartesSoul History

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November 13, 2007, at 03:06 PM by 219.77.143.253 -
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Category.Mind
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[[Category/Mind]]
November 13, 2007, at 03:06 PM by 219.77.143.253 -
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'''Principes de la Philosophie''' §169
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''Principes de la Philosophie'' §169
November 13, 2007, at 03:06 PM by 219.77.143.253 -
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'''Principes de la Philosophie''' §169

@@@Although the soul is united to the whole body, its principal functions are, nevertheless, performed in the brain; it is here that it not only understands and imagines, but also feels; and this is effected by the intermediation of the nerves, which extend in the form of delicate threads from the brain to all parts of the body, to which they are attached in such a manner, that we can hardly touch any part of the body without setting the extremity of some nerve in motion. This motion passes along the nerve to that part of the brain which is the common sensorium, as I have sufficiently explained in my ''Treatise on Dioptrics''; and the movements which thus travel along the nerves, as far as that part of the brain with which the soul is closely joined and united, cause it, by reason of their diverse characters, to have different thoughts. And it is these different thoughts of the soul, which arise immediately from the movements that are excited by the nerves in the brain, which we properly term our feelings, or the perceptions of our senses.@@@

Category.Mind