The vanity of dogmatizing: or confidence in opinions

The accuracy of his knowledge of natural effects likely came from his direct perception of their causes. What takes us many generations to learn through experience, his sharper senses could learn in a moment. While we piece together a bit of philosophy from a few experiments that are barely observed or understood, his knowledge was built on the certain, instant awareness of his perfect faculties. His sight could tell him if a Loadstone a natural magnet attracts through Atomical Effluviums outflows of tiny particles. This idea is supported by some who claim they have seen subtle streams coming from magnets using Microscopes. Perhaps he saw the movement of blood and spirits through transparent skin, just as we see bees working through a glass hive. The mysterious influence of the Moon and how it causes the tides

was not a question in his philosophy, any more than the movement of a clock is a mystery to us when we can see its gears. What we call "sympathies" and "antipathies" were not occult qualities hidden or magical properties to him. Causes that are hidden in darkness from us were as bright as the sun to him.

To show that this theory is reasonable, I will assume something few will deny: that God gave the human being, who was a reflection of Himself, every perfection he could hold. That this vast range of the senses was possible for a sinless human will be shown by the two following principles.

First, as far as nature's work goes, it operates through physical instruments. If the lights in the heavens influence the Earth and help create minerals in their hidden beds, it happens through physical contact. And if there is a force from the North Pole that directs a compass needle (however