III. HAving shewn, that the Definition given of Nature by Aristotle himself, as great a Logician as he was, has not been able to satisfie so much as his Interpreters and Disciples, what his own Idea of Nature was; ‘twould be to little purpose to trouble you and my self, with enquiring into the Definitions and Disputes of other Peripateticks, about so obscure and perplex’d a Subject; especially, since ‘tis not my business in this Tract, solicitously to examine what Aristotle thought Nature to be, but what is to be thought of the vulgarly receiv’d Notion of Nature; and tho’ of this, the Schools have been the chief Propagators, for which Reason it was fit to take notice of their Master Aristotle’s Definition; yet the best way, I know, to investigate the commonly receiv’d Opinion of Nature, is, to consider what Effata or Axioms do pass for current about Her; and what Titles and Epithets are unanimously given Her, both by Philosophers and other Writers, and by the generality of Men that have occasion to Discourse of Her and Her actings.
Of these Axioms and Epithets, the principal seen to be these that follow.
Natura est sapientissima, adeoque opus Naturae est opus Intelligentiae.
1 Natura nihil facit frustra.
Natura fine suo nunquam excidit.
2 Natura semper facit quod optimum est.
Natura semper agit per vias brevissimas.
Natura neque redundat in superfluis, neque deficit in necessariis.
Omnis Natura est conservatrix sui.
Natura est morborum medicatrix.
Natura semper invigilat conservationi Vniversi.
Natura vacuum horret.
From all these Particulars put together, it may appear, that the vulgar Notion of Nature may be conveniently enough expres’d by some such Description as this.
Nature is a most wise Being, that does nothing in vain, does not miss of her Ends; does always that which (of the things she can do) is best to be done; and this she does by the most direct or compendious ways, neither employing any things superfluous, nor being wanting in things necessary; she teaches & inclines every one of her Works to preserve it self. And, as in the Microcosm (Man) ‘tis she that is the Curer of Diseases, so in the Macrocosm (the World,) for the conservation of the Universe, she abhors a Vacuum, making particular Bodies act contrary to their own Inclinations and Interests, to prevent it, for the publick Good.
What I think of the Particulars, that make up this Paneygrical Description of Nature, will (God permitting) be told you in due place; my present work being only to make you the clearest Representation I can, of what Men generally (if they understand themselves) do, or with Congruity to the Axioms they admit and use, ought to conceive Nature to be.
‘Tis not unlike that you may expect, or wish, that on this occasion, I should propose some Definition or Description of Nature, as my own. But declining (at least at present) to say any thing, Dogmatically, about this matter, I know not whether I may not, on this occasion, confess to you, that I have sometimes been so Paradoxical, or (if you please) so Extravagant, as to entertain, as a serious Doubt, what I formerly intimated, viz. Whether Nature be a Thing, or a Name? I mean, whether it be a real Existent Being, or a notional Entity, somewhat of kin to those fictitious Terms, that Men have devis’d, that they might compendiously express several things together, by one Name? as when, for Instance, we speak of the Concocting Faculty ascrib’d to Animals; those that consider, and are careful to understand, what they say, do not mean I know not what Entity, that is distinct from the Human Body, as ‘tis an Engine curiously contriv’d, and made up of stable and fluid parts; but, observing an actuating power and fitness in the Teeth, Tongue, Spittle, Fibres and Membranes of the Gullet and Stomach, together with the natural Heat, the Ferment, or else the Menstruum,) and some other Agents, by their Co-operation, to cook or dress the Aliments, and change them into Chyle; observing these things, I say, they thought it convenient, for brevity’s sake, to express the Complex of those Causes, and the Train of their Actions, by the summary Appellation of concocting Faculty.
Whilst I was indulging my self, in this kind of Ravings, it came into my mind, that the Natuists might demand of me, How, without admitting their Notion, I could give any tolerable Account of those, most useful, Forms of Speech, which Men imploy, when they say, That Nature does this or that; or, That such a thing is done by Nature, or according to Nature, or else happens against Nature? And this Question I thought the more worth answering, because these Phrases are so very frequently us’d by Men of all sorts, as well Learned as Illiterate, that this Custom hath made them be thought, not only very convenient, but necessary; insomuch, that I look upon it as none of the least things, that has procur’d so general a reception to the vulgar notion of Nature, that these ready and commodious Forms of Speech suppose the Truth of it.