Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1810. Excerpt: ... has endowed matter;" and require for their explanation, not his constant interference, but only " the originalyfotf by which motion was communicated to the universe." I shall first consider those phenomena of which the caus.es are better understood, and more within the compass of our observation, such as the motions produced by impulse, gravitation, and the like; and which may be called the mechanical phenomena of nature: and I shall then offer a few observations upon the more difficult subject of the phenomena of chemistry, and those which belong to vegetable and animal physiology. Sect. 2. Of the Efficient Causes of the Mechanical Phenomena of Nature. There are no phenomena in the universe with which we are more familiarly acquainted than those which are apparently produced by impulse, pressure, or the seeming contact of bodies. It is in this way alone that we ourselves are able to produce any changes in the situation of surrounding objects; it is thus principally that we are affected, either agreeably or disagreeably by these objects; and it is thus also that we commonly see these objects apparently affecting one another. It is no wonder, then, that it should be a general belief among mankind, that the nature and effects of pressure and impulse are perfectly plain and intelligible; and that we should think we fully understand every thing that happens, when one body is made to move by a stroke received from another. The prejudice has been common even among philosophers, that there is something in the nature of impulse more intelligible than in that of any other physical cause; for they have been peculiarly solicitous to reduce every natural phenomenon to a case of impulse or contact; after which they have considered it as amply and satisfactorily explai...
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