Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAP. I STATE OF THE ARGUMENT
- CHAP. II STATE OF THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED
- CHAP. III APPLICATION OF THE ARGUMENT
- CHAP. IV OF THE SUCCESSION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
- CHAP. V APPLICATION OF THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED
- CHAP. VI THE ARGUMENT CUMULATIVE
- CHAP. VII OF THE MECHANICAL AND IMMECHANICAL FUNCTIONS OF ANIMALS AND VEGETABLES
- CHAP. VIII OF MECHANICAL ARRANGEME'NT IN THE HUMAN FRAME—OF THE BONES
- CHAP. IX OF THE MUSCLES
- CHAP. X OF THE VESSELS OF ANIMAL BODIES
- CHAP. XI OF THE ANIMAL STRUCTURE REGARDED AS A MASS
- CHAP. XII COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
- CHAP. XIII PECULIAR ORGANIZATIONS
- CHAP. XIV PROSPECTIVE CONTRIVANCES
- CHAP. XV RELATIONS
- CHAP. XVI COMPENSATIONS
- CHAP. XVII THE RELATION OF ANIMATED BODIES TO INANIMATE NATURE
- CHAP. XVIII INSTINCTS
- CHAP. XIX OF INSECTS
- CHAP. XX OF PLANTS
- CHAP. XXI OF THE ELEMENTS
- CHAP. XXII ASTRONOMY
- CHAP. XXIII PERSONALITY OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXIV OF THE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXV OF THE UNITY OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXVI THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXVII CONCLUSION
CHAP. XVI - COMPENSATIONS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 September 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAP. I STATE OF THE ARGUMENT
- CHAP. II STATE OF THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED
- CHAP. III APPLICATION OF THE ARGUMENT
- CHAP. IV OF THE SUCCESSION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
- CHAP. V APPLICATION OF THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED
- CHAP. VI THE ARGUMENT CUMULATIVE
- CHAP. VII OF THE MECHANICAL AND IMMECHANICAL FUNCTIONS OF ANIMALS AND VEGETABLES
- CHAP. VIII OF MECHANICAL ARRANGEME'NT IN THE HUMAN FRAME—OF THE BONES
- CHAP. IX OF THE MUSCLES
- CHAP. X OF THE VESSELS OF ANIMAL BODIES
- CHAP. XI OF THE ANIMAL STRUCTURE REGARDED AS A MASS
- CHAP. XII COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
- CHAP. XIII PECULIAR ORGANIZATIONS
- CHAP. XIV PROSPECTIVE CONTRIVANCES
- CHAP. XV RELATIONS
- CHAP. XVI COMPENSATIONS
- CHAP. XVII THE RELATION OF ANIMATED BODIES TO INANIMATE NATURE
- CHAP. XVIII INSTINCTS
- CHAP. XIX OF INSECTS
- CHAP. XX OF PLANTS
- CHAP. XXI OF THE ELEMENTS
- CHAP. XXII ASTRONOMY
- CHAP. XXIII PERSONALITY OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXIV OF THE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXV OF THE UNITY OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXVI THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY
- CHAP. XXVII CONCLUSION
Summary
Compensation is a fpecies of relation. It is relation when the defects of one part, or of one organ, are fupplied by the ftructure of another part, or of another organ. Thus,
I. The fhort, unbending neck of the elephant, is compenfated by the length and flexibility of his probofcis. He could not have reached the ground without it; or, if it be fuppofed that he might have fed upon the fruit, leaves, or branches of trees, how was he to drink? Should it be afked, Why is the elephant's neck fo fhort? it may be anfwered that the weight of a head fo heavy could not have been fupported at the end of a longer lever. To a form therefore, in fome refpects neceffary, but in fome refpects alfo inadequate to the occafions of the animal, a fupplement is added, which exactly makes up the deficiency under which he laboured.
If it be fuggefted, that this probofcis may have been produced in a long courfe of generations, by the conftant endeavour of the elephant to thruft out his nofe, (which is the general hypothefis by which it has lately been attempted to account for the forms of animated nature,) I would afk, how was the animal to fubfift in the mean time; during the procefs; until this prolongation of fnout were completed? What was to become of the individual, whilft the fpecies was perfecting?
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- Natural TheologyOr, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, Collected from the Appearances of Nature, pp. 298 - 314Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1803