The text discusses how people anthropomorphize animals, attributing human-like thoughts based on their observations of animal behavior. It explains the flawed logic in assuming animals have knowledge similar to humans, emphasizing that such beliefs are misplaced. The text also advises artists on understanding the depiction of muscles, cautioning them not to overly detail muscles in their artworks.
Maxxel and Role of Muscles. 405
People are accustomed to perceiving animals in this way, and genuinely believe that they possess great thoughts about animals' reasoning. This is because observing animals perform certain actions and movements daily, which are understood through observation and experience, leads people to think that animals at that time have thoughts similar to those that humans have when they perform similar acts. Among such assumptions are their ability to flee from danger, recognize their huts, stables, sleeping places, masters, and female companions; the sense of smell, dreams, passions, and more, perceived in animals as living creatures. However, some attribute, from certain phrases of Holy Scripture, a logical understanding to animals, which can seem quite ridiculous; for example, as a donkey knows its owner's crib, similarly, these assumptions are made. Additionally, it is said through Holy Scripture that the wind blows where it wishes, much like it says elsewhere in the Bible regarding animals. As it is believed that animals understand the setting of the sun and attribute a will to the wind and the sun, this knowledge and reasoning are entirely misplaced.
For artists, it is important to know that muscles or flesh, from the largest to the smallest, should not be depicted accurately and thoroughly and must be examined, to always portray them in the nude. One should be cautious not to emphasize images (as life contains many small and ambiguous muscles), leading one astray in their depiction.