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on the gait of animals-第2部分

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greater detail; while those which are not differentiated into such



parts; but make the differentiation in the body itself and so



progress; like some footless animals (for example snakes and



caterpillars after their kind; and besides what men call earth…worms);



all these have the distinction spoken of; although it is not made so



manifest to us。 That the beginning of movement is on the right is



indicated by the fact that all men carry burdens on the left shoulder;



in this way they set free the side which initiates movement and enable



the side which bears the weight to be moved。 And so men hop easier



on the left leg; for the nature of the right is to initiate



movement; that of the left to be moved。 The burden then must rest on



the side which is to be moved; not on that which is going to cause



movement; and if it be set on the moving side; which is the original



of movement; it will either not be moved at all or with more labour。



Another indication that the right is the source of movement is the way



we put our feet forward; all men lead off with the left; and after



standing still prefer to put the left foot forward; unless something



happens to prevent it。 The reason is that their movement comes from



the leg they step off; not from the one put forward。 Again; men



guard themselves with their right。 And this is the reason why the



right is the same in all; for that from which motion begins is the



same for all; and has its natural position in the same place; and



for this reason the spiral…shaped Testaceans have their shells on



the right; for they do not move in the direction of the spire; but all



go forward in the direction opposite to the spire。 Examples are the



murex and the ceryx。 As all animals then start movement from the



right; and the right moves in the same direction as the whole; it is



necessary for all to be alike right…handed。 And man has the left limbs



detached more than any other animal because he is natural in a



higher degree than the other animals; now the right is naturally



both better than the left and separate from it; and so in man the



right is more especially the right; more dextrous that is; than in



other animals。 The right then being differentiated it is only



reasonable that in man the left should be most movable; and most



detached。 In man; too; the other starting…points are found most



naturally and clearly distinct; the superior part that is and the



front。



                                 5







  Animals which; like men and birds; have the superior part



distinguished from the front are two…footed (biped)。 In them; of the



four points of motion; two are wings in the one; hands and arms in the



other。 Animals which have the superior and the front parts identically



situated are four…footed; many…footed; or footless (quadruped;



polypod; limbless)。 I use the term foot for a member employed for



movement in place connected with a point on the ground; for the feet



appear to have got their name from the ground under our feet。



  Some animals; too; have the front and back parts identically



situated; for example; Cephalopods (molluscs) and spiral…shaped



Testaceans; and these we have discussed elsewhere in another



connexion。



  Now there is in place a superior; an intermediate; and an



inferior; in respect to place bipeds have their superior part



corresponding to the part of the universe; quadrupeds; polypods; and



footless animals to the intermediate part; and plants to the inferior。



The reason is that these have no power of locomotion; and the superior



part is determined relatively to the nutriment; and their nutriment is



from the earth。 Quadrupeds; polypods; and footless animals again



have their superior part corresponding to the intermediate; because



they are not erect。 Bipeds have theirs corresponding to the superior



part of the universe because they are erect; and of bipeds; man par



excellence; for man is the most natural of bipeds。 And it is



reasonable for the starting points to be in these parts; for the



starting…point is honourable; and the superior is more honourable than



the inferior; the front than the back; and the right than the left。 Or



we may reverse the argument and say quite well that these parts are



more honourable than their opposites just because the



starting…points are in them。



                                 6







  The above discussion has made it clear that the original of movement



is in the parts on the right。 Now every continuous whole; one part



of which is moved while the other remains at rest must; in order to be



able to move as a whole while one part stands still; have in the place



where both parts have opposed movements some common part which



connects the moving parts with one another。 Further in this common



part the original of the motion (and similarly of the absence of



motion) of each of the parts must lie。



  Clearly then if any of the opposite pairs of parts (right and



left; that is; superior and inferior; before and behind) have a



movement of their own; each of them has for common original of its



movements the juncture of the parts in question。



  Now before and behind are not distinctions relatively to that



which sets up its own motion; because in nature nothing has a movement



backwards; nor has a moving animal any division whereby it may make



a change of position towards its front or back; but right and left;



superior and inferior are so distinguished。 Accordingly; all animals



which progress by the use of distinct members have these members



distinguished not by the differences of before and behind; but only of



the remaining two pairs; the prior difference dividing these members



into right and left (a difference which must appear as soon as you



have division into two); and the other difference appearing of



necessity where there is division into four。



  Since then these two pairs; the superior and inferior and the



right and left; are linked to one another by the same common



original (by which I mean that which controls their movement); and



further; everything which is intended to make a movement in each



such part properly must have the original cause of all the said



movements arranged in a certain definite position relatively to the



distances from it of the originals of the movements of the



individual members (and these centres of the individual parts are in



pairs arranged coordinately or diagonally; and the common centre is



the original from which the animal's movements of right and left;



and similarly of superior and inferior; start); each animal must



have this original at a point where it is equally or nearly equally



related to each of the centres in the four parts described。



                                 7







  It is clear then how locomotion belongs to those animals o
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