Are Beasts Mere Machines?
A gentleman one day talking with a friend maintained that beasts were mere
machines, and had no sort of reason to direct them; and that when they
cried or made a noise, it was only one of the wheels of the clock or
machine that made it. The friend, who was of a different opinion, replied,
"I have now in my kitchen two turnspits, who take their turns regularly
every other day to get into the wheel; one of them, not liking his
employment, hid himself on the day that he should work, so that his
companion was forced to mount the wheel in his stead, but crying and
wagging his tail, he made a sign for those in attendance to follow him. He
immediately conducted them to a garret, where he dislodged the idle dog,
and killed him immediately."
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