Pierre Charron
Of Wisdom
Man, Comparison Between Him and Other Animals
「1601」Pierre Charron, “The Second Way of Considering Man; Which Is, by Stating the Comparison between Him, and Other Animals,” in Of Wisdom, Three Books, Written Originally in French 「published in French as De la sagesse in 1601; 1st English Edition, 1697」trans. by George Stanhope (London 1707; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).
And thus we may observe a near Neighbourhood, and close Affinity between Mankind and other Animals. They are a-kin in many Things, and Several Properties are alike and common to both. Several Things indeed there are, wherein they differ; but these are not so vastly disproportionate and distant, but that they still are next adjoyning Links, twisted within one another, in the great Chain of the Universe. So that Man is neither in all respects superior, nor inferior in all. (240)
As for Speaking, allowing that to be the effect of Art, and not of Nature; yet it is certain too, that if it be not natural, it is not necessary neither. But yet This my be reckon’d among those Things that are given in common to Men and Beasts both: For what other Name but Speaking can we give to that Faculty of expressing themselves, that which we see they have upon all Occasions; those Significations of Pain, Grief and Joy; the Methods of Summoning one another together, and asking mutual Succours; their Arts of Courtship and Flattery, and making Love? As we sometimes speak by some particular Gestures, the Motions of our Eyes, or Head, or Hands, or Shoulders; (Arts in which Dumb People are exquisitely perfect, and practice event to Astonishment) so do Beats likewise converse with one another: And even Those of them that have no Voice at all, maintain an Intercourse of Good Offices, and ask and return them as Occasion serves. As Beasts understand Us in some degree, so do We in part understand Them: They flatter and soothe us; they threaten and give us warning; they call, intreat, and express their Want of our Help: We speak to Them, and They to Us after their manner; and if we understand but imperfectly, whose Fault is it? Theirs or Ours? This is what none of us can certainly tell, and somewhat may be said for either Side. They, for ought we know, may think as meanly of Us upon this Account, as We commonly do of them. (244)
It hath ever been, and ever will be, a Point in Controversie, whether Brutes have none of these Spiritual Powers; and that Opinion, which holds the Affirmative, and maintains they have, is supported with greatest Authorities, and seems to carry a greater Appearance of Truth. The most celebrated and Learned Philosophers have declared for it; No less than Aristotle, and Galen, and Porphyry, and Plutarch, Democritus and Anaxogoras. The Reason, upon which they ground that Assertion, it this; That the Brain is the Particular Organ, the part of the Body, employed by the Soul, in the Acts of Ratiocination; and that the Composition of the Brain, is exactly the same in Brutes, as it is in Men, and from hence they conclude, that the Instrument of Reason, is as apt and capable in one of these Creatures, as it is in the other. (249)
Once more; if we regard the Living in Agreement with Nature, and in Conformity with what she dictates and requires from us, Beasts seem to excel us in this respect very much; for they lead a Life of more Freedom, more Ease, and Security, more Moderation and Contentedness, than Men do. And That Man is deservedly reputed Wise, who makes them his Pattern, and his Lesson, and reaps Profit by their Example; by reforming and reducing himself to that Innocence, Simplicity, Liberty, Meekness, and Gentleness of Temper, which Nature had originally implanted both in Us and Them: And, which in Brutes is still very conspicuous, but in Us is decay’d, chang’d, and utterly corrupted by our Industrious Wickedness, and Artificial Depravations; thus debauching and abusing the particular Prerogative we pretend to, and rendering our selves more vile than the Beasts, by means of that very Understanding and Judgment, which sets us so far above them. Hence sure it is, that God intending to shame us into Vertue, sends us to School in Scripture, and bids us grow wiser by the Example of these Creatures. The Crane, the Stork, and the Swallow; the Serpent, and the Dove, the Ant, and the Ox, and the Ass, and sundry others, are recommended as Teachers to us. And after all, To take down our Vanity upon this Occasion, we ought to remember, that there is some sort of Correspondence, some mutual Relations and Duties arising from thence; if upon no other account, yet by reason of their being made by the same Hand, belonging to the same Master, and making a part of the same Family with our selves. And this single Reflection ought to prevail with us, to use or Advantages over them modestly, tenderly, and conscientiously; and not to treat them with Cruelty and Contempt. For as Justice is a Debt from us to all Men; so Kindness, and Beneficence, and Mercy must needs be due to all Creature whatsoever, that are in any Condition of receiving Benefit by us. (263)
