BODY AND PRACTICE IN KANT

substances. It does so in virtue of being the inner aspect of the substance
man.
Let us now proceed to he second work that Kant published in 1755,
Universal natural history.
1.6 Universal natural history
At a general level, the topic of Universal natural history is the same as
that of the other texts examined so far. 46
It deals with the physical
universe. Its aim, more precisely, is to explain the present structure of the
universe without presupposing divine intervention. In a remarkable
appendix, Kant then proceeds to discuss the relation between mind and
body. To most modern readers, his approach in this appendix must seem
exotic as he enters into a hypothetical discussion concerning life on other
planets. If we assume that the other planets of our solar system are
inhabited by intelligent beings, he asks, what would they be like, given
the differences in physical conditions prevailing on those planets?
Regardless of the exotic character of this question, however, and the
hypothetical nature of the discussion, the appendix is worth studying.
What we should look for is what ideas underlie the discussion.
Among these we find the idea of a very intimate integration of mind and
body.
Let us take a closer look at the text. Due to gravitational force,
Kant argues, the planets orbiting near the sun are composed of a
denser and heavier matter than the more distant planets. If thinking
beings exist on all these planets, these differences in material
conditions will probably influence their cognitive processes in a radical
way. 47
More specifically, he argues that the inhabitants of the more
distant planets, being composed of a lighter and finer matter are likely
to surpass the cognitive powers of their neighbors closer to the sun.
Not only will their senses be so constituted that the representations
they receive are clearer and more vivid, but their capacity to think,
that is, to connect and use these representations will also be swifter and
more appropriate than that of their more unfortunate neighbors. Kant
writes:
46 For the story behind the publication of the text, see Vleeshauwer (1962), 17.
47
Ak I: 352.
THE EMBODIED MIND
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