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. For it acts as a
defence to this and to the oesophagus, encircling them and keeping
them from injury. In all other animals this neck is flexible and
contains several vertebrae; but in wolves and lions it contains only a
single bone. For the object of nature was to give these animals an
organ which should be serviceable in the way of strength, rather
than one that should be useful for any of the other purposes to
which necks are subservient.
Continuous with the head and neck is the trunk with the anterior
limbs. In man the forelegs and forefeet are replaced by arms and by
what we call hands. For of all animals man alone stands erect, in
accordance with his godlike nature and essence. For it is the function
of the god-like to think and to be wise; and no easy task were this
under the burden of a heavy body, pressing down from above and
obstructing by its weight the motions of the intellect and of the
general sense. When, moreover, the weight and corporeal substance
become excessive, the body must of necessity incline towards the
ground. In such cases therefore nature, in order to give support to
the body, has replaced the arms and hands by forefeet, and has thus
converted the animal into a quadruped. For, as every animal that walks
must of necessity have the two hinder feet, such an animal becomes a
quadruped, its body inclining downwards in front from the weight which
its soul cannot sustain
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