title: [The wisdom of the animal body].
abstract: In 1932 CANNON described the physiological wisdom of the body. This cannot exist without morphological wisdom. Since morphology is a formative process, both kinds of wisdom depend on the same formative forces. These forces are the forces of consciousness at all levels. Their existence is proved by the fact that they can be eliminated by narcosis. The wisdom of these forces is twofold: Firstly, the wisdom of need sensation which lasts only until the need is satisfied. This is the conscious intelligence of the body which is responsible for restraint in all living beings. Secondly, the wisdom, or better, the prudence of need satisfaction which requires knowledge and appropriate tools. The organs of the body are these tools. Knowledge belongs to the intellect which knows how to handle material. This is achieved in all prehuman species subconsciously and is demonstrated in all structures built by cells and animals. Only the human mind can be unwise and imprudent; but man, being free, is also able to be wise and prudent and so prevent the extinction of the earthly creation.
authors.affiliation: Veterinäranatomie, Freien Universität Berlin.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Preuss
mesh_terms: D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution
vernacular_title: Die Weisheit des Tierkörpers.