The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes

by Erasmus Darwin

CANTO II.

• [1] Shortness of Life.
• [3] Old Age surprising.
• [39] Organic and chemical Properties.
• [43] Immortality of Matter.
• [47] Adonis emblem of Life.
• [71] The Truffle, Lycoperdon.
• [83] Volvox.
• [85] Polypus.
• [87] Tænia.
• [89] Oysters.
• [90] Coral-Insect.
• [114] Female Sex produced.
• [118] Power of Imagination.
• [122] Mankind were formerly Hermaphrodites and Quadrupeds.
• [167] Hereditary Diseases of Vegetables.
• [223] Psyche and Cupid.
• [268] Some Honey poisonous.
• [271] Appetency and Propensity.
• [280] Vallisneria.
• [288] Lampyris.
• [302] Insects from Anthers and Stigmas.
• [321] Horns of Stags, and Tusks of Boars, Spurs of Cocks.
• [351] Chick in the Egg.
• [356] Songs of Birds.
• [373] How Fish swim.
• [375] How Birds fly.
• [434] Of Smiles, and of Laughter.

CANTO III.

• [13] Oxygen, and Hydrogen, and Azote.
• [21] Two electric Ethers.
• [64] Irritation.
• [72] Sensation.
• [73] Volition, Memory.
• [81] Intuitive Analogy.
• [91] Association.
• [103] Armour of Brutes.
• [122] Of the Human Hand.
• [125] Perception of Figure.
• [144] Sight the Language of the Touch.
• [145] Surprise, Novelty, Curiosity.
• [152] The Lips an Organ of Touch.
• [176] Ideal Beauty.
• [178] Two Deities of Love.
• [207] Idea of Beauty from the Female Bosom.
• [230] Taste for Sublimity.
• [237] Poetic Melancholy.
• [246] Taste for Tragedy.
• [258] Taste for uncultivated Nature.
• [270] Accumulation of sensorial Power.
• [294] Imitation described.
• [303] Imitation of one Sense by another.
• [319] Mimickry or Resemblance.
• [334] The Parts of the System imitate each other.
• [342] External Signs of Passions.
• [371] Theory of Language.
• [398] Ideas so called are parts of a train of Actions.
• [401] Of Reason.
• [411] Reasoning of Insects.
• [435] Volition distinguishes Mankind.
• [456] If Knowledge produces Happiness.
• [466] Sympathy the source of Virtue.
• [485] Maxim of Socrates.

CANTO IV.

• [29] Oestrus or Gadfly.
• [33] Ichneumon fly.
• [37] Libellula.
• [39] Bees.
• [57] Shark.
• [59] Crocodile
• [66] Animals prey on Vegetables.
• [71] Defect of Stimulus.
• [87] Theatric Preachers.
• [93] Pleasure of Life, Ennui.
• [94] Of Tooth-edge.
• [119] Epidemic Complaints.
• [130] Compassion may be too great.
• [147] Doctrine of Atoms.
• [160] Pleasure of viewing a Landscape.
• [178] Pleasure from Music.
• [242] Ancient Orators spoke disrespectfully of the mechanic Philosophers.
• [270] Influence of Printing.
• [299] Associated ideas of three Classes.
• [309] Wit defined.
• [349] Surprising number of Seeds.
• [351] Of the Aphis, its Numbers.
• [352] Aphis drinks the Sap-juice.
• [359] The Mutation of the Tadpole.
• [387] Animation near the Surface of the Earth.
• [387] All dead animal and vegetable Bodies become animated.
• [403] Doctrine of St. Paul.
• [411] Happiness increased.
• [417] Doctrine of Pythagoras.
• [431] Geology.
• [450] Method of investigation of Organic happiness.
• [453] Organic Life increases.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
SPONTANEOUS VITALITY OF MICROSCOPIC ANIMALS.

Hence without parent by spontaneous birth
Rise the first specks of animated earth.
Canto I. l. 227.