OUTLINE OF LA METTRIE'S METAPHYSICAL DOCTRINE. |
  | | PAGES1 | | I. | Insistence on the Empirical Standpoint | 16f.; 88f.; 72, 142 | | II. | Arguments in Favor of Materialism: | | | a. | The “Soul” is Affected, | | | 1. | By Disease | 18f.; 90f. | | 2. | By Sleep | 19f.; 91f. | | 3. | By Drugs | 20; 92 | | 4. | By Food | 21f.; 93ff. | | 5. | By Age and Sex | 23f.; 95f. | | 6. | By Temperature and Climate | 24f.; 96ff. | | b. | There is No Sharp Distinction Between Men and Animals (Machines) | 28f., 100ff.; 41ff., 113ff.; 75f., 142f. | | c. | Bodily Movements are Due to the “Motive Power” of the Body | 51ff., 129ff. | | III. | Conception of Matter. | | | a. | Matter is Extended | 154f. | | b. | Matter Has the Power of Motion | 70, 140; 156ff. | | c. | Matter Has the Faculty of Feeling | 159ff. | | IV. | Conception of Man: | | | a. | Man is a Machine | 17, 89; 21, 93; 56, 128; 69, 140f.; 73, 143; 80, 148 | | b. | All Man’s Faculties Reduce to Sense and Imagination | 35ff., 107ff. | | c. | Man is Like Animals in Being Capable of Education | 38, 110 | | d. | Man is Ignorant of His Destiny | 79, 147 | | V. | Theological Doctrine: | | | a. | The Existence of God is Unproved and Practically Unimportant | 50, 122 | | b. | The Argument from Design is Ineffective Against the Hypothesis of Mechanical Causality | 51ff., 124ff. | | c. | Atheism Makes for Happiness | 55, 126f. |
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