Perception exists in some degree in all animals, though the number and quickness of their senses var… — John Locke

Perception exists in some degree in all animals, though the number and quickness of their senses vary according to their condition and needs; this gradation in perceptual capacity manifests the wisdom and goodness of the Creator.

By John Locke, from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Key Arguments

Locke believes that perception ‘is, in some degree, in all sorts of animals’, though in some the avenues for sensation are fewer and more obscure.
He holds that, despite differences, each species has perception ‘sufficient for, and wisely adapted to, the state and condition of that sort of animals who are thus made’.
He infers from this adaptation that ‘the wisdom and goodness of the Maker plainly appear in all the parts of this stupendous fabric, and all the several degrees and ranks of creatures in it’.

Source Quotes

Perception in all animals. Perception, I believe, is, in some degree, in all sorts of animals; though in some possibly the avenues provided by nature for the reception of sensations are so few, and the perception they are received with so obscure and dull, that it comes extremely short of the quickness and variety of sensation which is in other animals; but yet it is sufficient for, and wisely adapted to, the state and condition of that sort of animals who are thus made. So that the wisdom and goodness of the Maker plainly appear in all the parts of this stupendous fabric, and all the several degrees and ranks of creatures in it.

Perception, I believe, is, in some degree, in all sorts of animals; though in some possibly the avenues provided by nature for the reception of sensations are so few, and the perception they are received with so obscure and dull, that it comes extremely short of the quickness and variety of sensation which is in other animals; but yet it is sufficient for, and wisely adapted to, the state and condition of that sort of animals who are thus made. So that the wisdom and goodness of the Maker plainly appear in all the parts of this stupendous fabric, and all the several degrees and ranks of creatures in it. 13.

Key Concepts

Perception, I believe, is, in some degree, in all sorts of animals;
but yet it is sufficient for, and wisely adapted to, the state and condition of that sort of animals who are thus made.
So that the wisdom and goodness of the Maker plainly appear in all the parts of this stupendous fabric, and all the several degrees and ranks of creatures in it.

Context

Book II, chapter IX, section 12, where Locke generalizes perception to all animals and draws a theological conclusion about divine design.