"If you really then think that, every process, termed mental, in man, is in fact nothing more than so many distinct nervous vibrations, then I readily grant that matter may think, for undoubtedly every stretched cord, when touched, will vibrate; and I will farther grant, that a fiddle, in that sense may likewise be stiled a thinking substance."
— Berington, Joseph (1743-1827)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for G. Robinson, and M. Swinney, Birmingham
Date
1776
Metaphor
"If you really then think that, every process, termed mental, in man, is in fact nothing more than so many distinct nervous vibrations, then I readily grant that matter may think, for undoubtedly every stretched cord, when touched, will vibrate; and I will farther grant, that a fiddle, in that sense may likewise be stiled a thinking substance."
Metaphor in Context
[...] The passage is: "So now that we see the laws and affections of mere matter are infinitely more complex than we had imagined, we may by this time, I should think, be prepared to admit the possibly of a mass of matter like the brain, having been formed by the almighty creator with such exquisite powers, with respect to vibrations, as should be sufficient for all the purpofes above-mentioned (to generate all the modes of sensation and thought;) though the particulars of its constitution and mode of affection, may far exceed our comprehension." If you really then think that, every process, termed mental, in man, is in fact nothing more than so
many distinct nervous vibrations, then I readily grant that matter may think, for undoubtedly every stretched cord, when touched, will vibrate; and I will farther grant, that a fiddle, in that sense may likewise be stiled a thinking substance. But if this be the case, it is idle to make such a fuss about it, and so seriously to require that the Deity should interfere in the construction of such a machine, or to tell us, that from the late discoveries made in chemical operations, we have now reason to conclude that matter is infinitely more complex in its properties, than was before imagined; since to produce any number or variety of vibrations, we can possibly desire nothing more than strings of a different length and thickness. [...]
(pp. 26-7)
(pp. 26-7)
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Berington, Joseph. Letters on Materialism and Hartley's theory of the Human Mind, Addressed to Dr. Priestley, F. R. S. (London: Printed for G. Robinson, and M. Swinney, Birmingham, 1776). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
04/01/2013
