Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana, or, A fabrick of science natural, upon the hypothesis of atoms founded by Epicurus repaired [by] Petrus Gassendus ; augmented [by] Walter Charleton ...

The Second Book.

CHAP. I. The Existence of Atoms, Evicted. p. 84.

SECT. I.

ARTIC:

1 THe right of the Authors Transition from the Incorporeal to the Corporeal part of Nature: and a series of his subsequent speculations:

ibid.

2 Bodies generally distinshed into Principles and Productions, with their Scholastick Denomi∣minations and proprieties.

85

3 The right of Atoms to the Attributes of the First Matter.

ibid.

4 Their sundry Appellations allusive to their three eminent proprieties.

ibid.

5 Two vulgarly passant Derivations of the word, Atom, exploded.

86

6 Who their Inventor: and who their Nomen∣clator.

87

7 Their Existence demonstrated.

87

8 That Nature, in her dissolution of Concretions, doth descend to the insensible particles.

88

9 That she can run on to Infinity.

ibid.

10 But must consist in Atoms, the Term of Ex∣solubility.

11 A second Argument of their Existence, drawn from that of their Antitheton Inanity.

89

12 A third, hinted from the impossibility of the Production of Hard Bodies, from any other Principle.

ibid.

13 A Fourth, from the Constancy of Nature in the specification and Determinate Periods of her Generations.

ibid.

CHAP. II. No Physical Continuum, infinitely Divisible. p. 90.

SECT. I.

ARTIC.

1 THe Cognation of this Theorem, to the Argument of the immediately praecedent Chapter.

ibid▪

2 Magnitude divisible by a continued progress through parts either Proportional, or Aliquo∣tal.

ibid.

3 The use of that Distinction in the praesent.

9••

4 The verity of the Thesis, demonstrated.

ibid.

5 Two detestable Absurdities, inseparable from the position of Infinite parts in a Continuum.

ibid.

6 Aristotles subterfuge of Infinitude Potential;

92

7 Found openly Collusive.

93

8 A second subterfuge of the Stoick;

ibid.

9 Manifestly dissentaneous to Reason.

ibid

SECT. II.

ARTIC.

1 THe Absurdities, by Empericus, charged upon the supposition of only Finite parts in a Continuum.

94

2 The sundry Incongruities and Inconsistences, by the Modern Anti-Democritans, imputed to the supposition of Insectility.

ibid.

3 The full Derogation of them all together, by one single Responce; that the minimum of A∣tomists is not Mathematical, but Physical, con∣trary to their praesumption.

95

4 A seeming Dilemma of the Adversary, ex∣peditely evaded.

96

5 A Digression, stating and determining that notable Quaestion, Whether Geometrical De∣monstrations may be conveniently transfer∣red to the Physical or sensible Quantity?

ibid.

CHAP. III. Atoms, the First and Vniversal Matter. p 99.

SECT. I.

ART.

1 THe introduction, hinting the two general assumptions of the Chapter.

ibid.

2 Democritus and Epicurus vindicated from the absurd admission of Inanity to be one Principle of Generables.

ibid.

3 Atoms not inconsistent with, because the Prin∣ciples of the four vulgar Elements.

100

4 The dissent of the Ancients, about the number of Elements.

101

5 No one of the four Elements sufficient to the production of either any of the other three, or of any Compound nature

ibid.

6 The four Elements, not the Protoprinciple of Concretions.

102

7 Atoms discriminated from the Homoiomerical Principles of Anaxagoras.

ibid.

8 The principal Difficulties urged against the Hypothesis of Atoms, singularly solved.

103

9 A recapitulation of the praemises, introdu∣ctory to the verification of the praesent thesis:

106

SECT. II.

ARTIC.

1 THe 4 notable opinions, concerning the Com∣position of a Continuum.

107

2 A Physical Continuum cannot consist of Points Mathematical.

ibid.

3 Nor of Parts and Points Mathematical, uni∣ted.

108

4 Nor of a simple Entity, before division indi∣stinct: but of Indivis••bles.

ibid.

5 A second Apodictical reason, desumed from the nature of Vnion, evi••cing that Atoms are the First and Catholick Principle of Concretions.

109

6 An objection praevented.

ibid.

7 The reason of the Authors supercession of all other Arguments of the like importance.

ibid.

CHAP. IV. The Essential Proprieties of Atoms: p. 111.

SECT. I.

ARTIC.

1 THe two links connecting this to the praece∣dent Chapter.

ibid.

2 The General Proprieties of Atoms: and the Inseparability of each, demonstrated.

ibid.

3 The Resistence of Atoms, no distinct proprie∣ty; but pertinent to their Solidity or Gravity▪

112

4 The specifical Proprieties of Atoms.

ibid.

SECT. II. Concerning the Magnitude of A∣toms. p. 113.

ARTIC.

1 BY the Magnitude, is meant the Parvity of Atoms.

ibid.

2 A consideration of the Grossness of our senses, and the extreme subtilty of Nature in her o∣perations; praeparatory to our Conjectural ap∣prehension of the Exiguity of Her Materials, Atoms.

ibid.

3 The incomprehensible subtility of Nature, ar∣gued from the Artifice of an exquisite Watch, contrived in a very narrow room.

114

4 The vast multitude of sensible particles, and the vaster of Elemental Atoms, contained in one grain of Frankinsense; exactly calculated.

ibid.

5 The Dioptrical speculation of a Handworm, discovering the great variety of Organical Parts therein, and the innumerability of their Component Particles.

115

6 A short Digressive Descant upon the Text of Pliny, touching the multiplicity of parts in a Flea; hinting the possible perspicacity of Rea∣son.

ibid.

7 The Exility of Atoms, conjectural from the great diffusion of one Grain of Vermillion dis∣solved in Water.

116

8 The same, inferrible from the small quantity of oil depraedated by the Flame of a Lamp, in a quarter of an hour.

ibid.

9 The Microscope of great use, in the discern∣ment of the minute particles of Bodies: and so advantageous to our Conjecture, of the exi∣lity of Atoms.

ibid

SECT. III. Concerning the Figures of Atoms. p. 117.

ARTIC.

1 AN Epitome of all that directly concerns the Fig••res of Atom•• in three General Canons.

ibid.

2 The First Canon explained and certifyed.

ibid.

3 The Exility of Atoms, do••h not necessitate their General Roundness 〈◊〉〈◊〉 contrary to the common conceit.

ibid.

4 The Diversity of Figures in Atoms, evicted from the sensible Dissimilitude of Individuals, as well Animate as Inanimate.

118

5 A singular Experiment, antoptically demon∣strating the various Configurations of the mi∣nute Particles of Concretions.

119

6 A variety of Figures in Atoms, necessary to the variety of all Sensibles.

ibid.

7 The second Canon, explained and Certified.

120

8 The Third Canon, explained, and refuted.

121

SECT. IV. Concerning the Motions of Atoms. p. 121.

ARTIC.

1 TWo introductory Observables.

ibid.

2 The Motion of Atoms, according to the General Distinction of the Ancients, Two-fold; viz Natural, and Accidental: and each of these redivided into two different Species.

ibid.

3 The summary of Epicurus Figment, of the Perpendicular Motion of Atoms, without a common Centre.

122

4 His Declinatory natural Motion of Atoms, excused; not justified.

ibid.

5 The genuine sense of Epicurus, in his distincti∣on of the Reflex Motion of Atoms into ex Plaga, and ex Concussione.

123

6 The several Conceptions of Epicurus, about the perpetual Motions of Atoms.

124

7 The perpetual Inquietude of Atoms, even in compact Concretions, adumbrated in melted Lead.

ibid.

8 The same more sensibly exemplified, in the spi∣rit extracted from Mercury, Tin, and Subsi∣mate.

125

9 The Mutability of all Concretions, a good Ar∣gument of the perpetual intestine Commotion of Atoms, in the most adamantine Compositi∣ons.

ibid.

10 What we are to explode, and what retain, in the opinion of Epicurus, touching the Motion of Atoms.

ibid.