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Aristotle - On The Parts Of Animals
Atec Февраль 16 2008 20:01:06
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. For when this occurs there ensues forthwith a marked
disturbance of intellect and of sensation. It is indeed because of
this that the midriff is called Phrenes, as though it had some share
in the process of thinking (Phronein). in reality, however, it has
no part whatsoever itself in the matter, but, lying in close proximity
to organs that have, it brings about the manifest changes of
intelligence in question by acting upon them. This too explains why
its central part is thin. For though this is in some measure the
result of necessity, inasmuch as those portions of the fleshy whole
which lie nearest to the ribs must necessarily be fleshier than the
rest, yet besides this there is a final cause, namely to give it as
small a proportion of humour as possible; for, had it been made of
flesh throughout, it would have been more likely to attract and hold a
large amount of this. That heating of it affects sensation rapidly and
in a notable manner is shown by the phenomena of laughing. For when
men are tickled they are quickly set a-laughing, because the motion
quickly reaches this part, and heating it though but slightly
nevertheless manifestly so disturbs the mental action as to occasion
movements that are independent of the will. That man alone is affected
by tickling is due firstly to the delicacy of his skin, and secondly
to his being the only animal that laughs. For to be tickled is to be
set in laughter, the laughter being produced such a motion as
mentioned of the region of the armpit
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