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The Improvement of Human Reason - Exhibited in the Life of Hai Ebn Yokdhan by Ibn Tufail
page 52 of 141 (36%)
well when it was divided, as when it was altogether, only in respect of
that division it may be said in some sort to be Multiplied. By this way
of Contemplation he perceiv'd that a whole Species was One and the same
thing, and that the Multiplicity of Individuals in the same Species is
like the Multiplicity of Parts in the same Person, which indeed are not
_many_ [i.e. are only _One_.]

§ 35. Then he represented in his Mind, all the Several kinds of Animals,
and perceiv'd that Sensation, and Nutrition, and the Power of moving
freely where they pleas'd, was common to them all; which Actions he was
assur'd before, were all very proper to the Animal Spirit, and that
those lesser things in which they differ'd (notwithstanding their
agreement in these greater,) were not so proper to that Spirit. From
this consideration he concluded, that it was only One and the same
Animal Spirit, which Actuated all living Creatures whatsoever, tho'
there was in it a little difference, which each Species claim'd as
peculiar to it self. For instance, suppose the same Water be pour'd out
into different Vessels, that which is in this Vessel may possibly be
something warmer than that which is in another, tho' 'tis the same Water
still, and so every degree of Heat and Cold in this Water in the Several
Vessels, will represent the Specifick difference which there is in
Animals: And as that Water is all one and the same, so is that Animal
Spirit _One_, tho' in some respect there is a sort of Multiplicity. And
so under this Notion he look'd upon the whole Species of living
Creatures, to be all _One_.

§ 36. Afterwards Contemplating the different Species of Plants, as he
had done before of Animals, he perceiv'd that the Individuals of every
Species were alike, both in their Boughs, Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, and
manner of Growing. And comparing them with Animals, he found that there
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