The Works of Swedenborg

Soul's Domain, The (two volumes)

Synopsis

The Soul’s Domain (also known as The Animal Kingdom) is the second and last of Swedenborg’s published physiological works. It follows in the same vein (pardon the wordplay) as its predecessor The Economy of the Animal Kingdom, Swedenborg again extracting from the leading anatomical authorities and reaching his own conclusions from the evidence gathered. He felt he had been too hasty in The Economy of the Animal Kingdom in trying to penetrate the secrets of the soul after just an examination of the blood, arteries and heart etc. The Soul’s Domain was to be the start of a work planned to cover the entire anatomical structure. The Soul’s Domain covers the digestive and respiratory systems, the liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and the start of an inquiry into the senses, looking at touch and taste. Swedenborg gave up his project in 1744, after his spiritual illumination, leaving the remainder of his planned work in unpublished manuscripts. This edition contains a Preface to 1960 Photo Offset Edition, Translator’s Prefaces to Parts I, II, and III, an Index of Authors cited, Bibliographical Notices of Authors cited, an Index of Subjects, and an Appendix outlining the contents of Swedenborg’s physiological manuscripts by J E Svedbom.