Library › Nemesius of Emesa › On the Nature of Man
On the Nature of Man
Nemesius of Emesa, tr. Wither, 1636
This Chapter mentioneth other divisions of the faculties belonging to a living-creature.
Division is made of those faculties which pertain unto a living-creature in another maner: For it is affirmed that some faculties are mentall, some naturall, and some vitall.
They which are mentall are in our owne choice and election; they which are not in our election, are naturall, and vitall. The faculties belonging unto the minde are two, the motion of appetite, and of sense.
To the motion of our appetite, these faculties are appertaining; Progression from place to place, the motion of the whole body, speech and respiration: For it is in our power to doe, or to omit these things. But the naturall, and vitall faculties are not in our power; for they goe forward, nill we will we; as the faculty of nourishing, of growing, and of propagation: all which are naturall faculties, and so doth likewise the facultie of the pulses, which is vitall.
As for the instruments (of these faculties) mentioned by others, wee have already treated of them, wee will therefore speake of the instruments of those things which belong unto our appetite (or choice)