Opening the library…

Search the Bible

On the Workmanship of God, or the Formation of Man

Lactantius

Chapter 9

About this work

A reflection on the human body and soul arguing that their design, function, and mutual relation reveal providence and distinguish purposeful creation from materialist explanation.

Author: Lactantius
Date: c. AD 303–305
Origin: Nicomedia
Genre: Theological Treatise

Chap. IX.—Of the Senses and Their Power.

It pleases me in this place to

‹ Chapter 8 Chapter 10 ›

censure

the

folly

of

those

who

,

while

they

wish

to

show

that

the

senses

are

false

,

collect

many

instances

in

which

the

eyes

are

deceived

;

and

among

them

this

also

,

that

all

things

appear

double

to

the

mad

and

intoxicated

,

as

though

the

cause

of

that

error

were

obscure

.

For

it

happens

on

this

account

,

because

there

are

two

eyes

.

But

hear

how

it

happens

.

The

sight

of

the

eyes

consists

in

the

exertion

of

the

soul

.

Therefore

,

since

the

mind

,

as

has

been

above

said

,

uses

the

eyes

as

windows

,

this

happens

not

only

to

those

who

are

intoxicated

or

mad

,

but

even

to

those

who

are

of

sound

mind

,

and

sober

.

For

if

you

place

any

object

too

near

,

it

will

appear

double

,

for

there

is

a

certain

interval

and

space

in

which

the

sight

of

the

eyes

meets

together

.

Likewise

,

if

you

call

the

soul

back

as

if

to

reflection

,

and

relax

the

exertion

of

the

mind

,

then

the

sight

of

each

eye

is

drawn

asunder

,

and

they

each

begin

to

see

separately

.

If you, again, exert the mind and direct the eyesight, whatever appeared double unites into one. What wonder, therefore, if the mind, impaired by poison and the powerful influence of wine, cannot direct itself to seeing, as the feet cannot to walking when they are weak through the numbness of the sinews, or if the force of madness raging against the brain disunites the agreement of the eyes? Which is so true, that in the case of one-eyed men, if they become either mad or intoxicated, it can by no means happen that they see any object double. Wherefore, if the reason is evident why the eyes are deceived, it is clear that the senses are not false: for they either are not deceived if they are pure and sound; or if they are deceived, yet the mind is not deceived which recognises their error.

Notes

1
Luscis.