On September 25, 1762, Frederick (the Great) II of Prussia, had this to say
in a letter to Diderot . . .
"I am well convinced that I am not twofold; hence, I consider myself as a
single being. I know that I am an animal organised, and that thinks; hence,
I conclude that matter can think, as well as that it has the property of
being electric."
Earlier, following the anonomous publishing of "L'Homme Machine" in 1747,
Frederick personally wrote the "eloge" his secretary read out in July 1748 to
have this book's author, Julien Offray de la Mettrie, included as a full
member of the Prussian Royal Society.