2. Natural relation.
Secondly, Another occasion of comparing things together, or considering one thing, so as to
include in that consideration some other thing, is the circumstances of their origin or beginning; which being not
afterwards to be altered, make the relations depending thereon as lasting as the subjects to which they belong, v.g.
father and son, brothers, cousin-germans, etc., which have their relations by one community of blood, wherein
they partake in several degrees: countrymen, i.e., those who were born in the same country or tract of ground; and
these I call natural relations: wherein we may observe, that mankind have fitted their notions and words to the use
of common life, and not to the truth and extent of things. For it is certain, that, in reality, the relation is the same
betwixt the begetter and the begotten, in the several races of other animals as well as men; but yet it is seldom
said, this bull is the grandfather of such a calf, or that two pigeons are cousin-germans. It is very convenient that,
by distinct names, these relations should be observed and marked out in mankind, there being occasion, both in
laws and other communications one with another, to mention and take notice of men under these relations: from
whence also arise the obligations of several duties amongst men: whereas, in brutes, men having very little or no
cause to mind these relations, they have not thought fit to give them distinct and peculiar names. This, by the way,
may give us some light into the different state and growth of languages; which being suited only to the
convenience of communication, are proportioned to the notions men have, and the commerce of thoughts familiar
amongst them; and not to the reality or extent of things, nor to the various respects might be found among them;
nor the different abstract considerations might be framed about them. Where they had no philosophical notions,
there they had no terms to express them: and it is no wonder men should have framed no names for those things
they found no occasion to discourse of. From whence it is easy to imagine why, as in some countries, they may
have not so much as the name for a horse; and in others, where they are more careful of the pedigrees of their
horses, than of their own, that there they may have not only names for particular horses, but also of their several
relations of kindred one to another.
