The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. 2.

Of his Opinions.

Sect. 1. That Infinity is the principle of all things.

THales (saith* 1.1 Cicero) who held that all things consist of water, could not perswade his Countryman and Companion Anaximan∣der thereto, for he asserted That infinity is that whereof all things were made; or (according to* 1.2 Plutarch, Laertius, and* 1.3 Iustine Martyr) that it is the principle and element of things (for these two he con∣founded, as was observ'd of his Master Thales)* 1.4 but not declared what this infinity is, whether Air, Water, Earth, or any other body, for which condemned by Plutarch.

That it is* 1.5 one, infinite in magnitude (not number) whence * 1.6 Aristotle reprehends him for imagining contrarieties can pro∣ceed from the same principle.* 1.7 That it is for that reason infinite that it may not fail.

* 1.8 That the parts thereof are changed; the whole is immutable (* 1.9 Sym∣plicius saith moveable)* 1.10 That out of it all things proceed, and re∣solve into it.

That there are infinite worlds generated which corrupt into that whereof they were generated.

Sect. 2. Of the Heavens.

HIs opinion (according to* 1.11 Cicero) was, that the Gods are na∣tive (having a beginning) rising and setting by long intervalls, and that there are innumerable worlds: This* 1.12 Plutarch and Stobaeus apply to the Heavens and Stars. But how can we (addes Cicero) understand a God that is not eternall.* 1.13 That Heaven consists of cold and heat mixed.

That the starrs are globous instances▪ consisting of air full of fire, respiring flames at some certain part:* 1.14 moved by the circles and sphears wherein they inhere; which assertion Aristotle borrowed from hence.

That the Sun is seated highest, the moon next,* 1.15 then the sixed starres and Planets.

That the circle of the Sun is* 1.16 28. times (Theodoret saith 27.) greater then the earth, having a hollow circle about it like a Chariot wheel, full of fire; in one part whereof there is a mouth,* 1.17 at which the fire is seen as out of the hole of a ••lute, which is the Sun* 1.18 equall in bignesse with the Earth.

* 1.19 That the cause of the Sunn's Eclipse is the stopping that hole in the midst, out of which the fire issues.

* 1.20 That the circle of the Moon is 29. times greater then the Earth, like a Chariot wheel, having a hollow or be in the midst full of fire (like the Sun) and oblique, breathing fire out at one part as out of a tunnel.* 1.21

* 1.22 That the Eclipse of the Moon happens according to her conversions, when the mouth out of which the ••ire issueth, is stopped.

* 1.23 That the Mooon hath a light of her own: but very thin;* 1.24 that she shineth in the light she borroweth from the Sun; which two assertions are so far* 1.25 from being inconsistent, that it is the common opi∣nion •• both are true.

Sect. 3. Of Meteors.

* 1.26 THat wind is a fluxion of the air, when the most subtle and liquid parts thereof are either stirr'd or resolved by the Sun.

* 1.27 That Thunders, lightnings, presters, and whirlewinds are caused by the wind enclosed in a thick cloud, which by reason of its lightnesse breaketh forth violently; the rupture of the cloud maketh a crack; and the divulsion by reason of the blacknesse causeth a slashing light.* 1.28 Seneca more expressely, He ascribed all to wind. Thunder (saith he) is the sound of a breaking cloud: why unequall? because the breakings are un∣equall. Why doth it thunder in a clear day? Because even then the wind breaks through the thick and dry air. Why sometimes doth it thunder and not lighten? Because the thinner and weaker spirit is able to make a flame but not a sound. What is lightning? The agitation of the air seve∣ring it self and rushing down, disclosing a faint fire. What is Thunder? The motion of a piercing thick spirit.

* 1.29 All things are so ordered, that some influence descend from the Aether upon inferiour things; so fire sounds, forced upon cold clouds: When it breaks them it shines; the fewer flames beget lightnings, the greater, thunder: a great part, the rest was altered from its naturall kind by his excessive heat.

* 1.30 That the first creatures were bred in humidity, and enclosed within sharp thorny barks, but as they grew older they became dryer, and at last the bark being broken round about them, they lived some little time after it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acad. quaest. 4.
• * 1.2

  De plac. phil. 1. 3.
• * 1.3

  Paran. ad Graec.
• * 1.4

  Laert.
• * 1.5

  Symplic. in phys. 1. 2. phis. 1. 5.
• * 1.6

  Plut. plac. phil. 1. 3.
• * 1.7

  Laert.
• * 1.8

  Cap. 6.
• * 1.9

  Cicer. Acad. quaest. 4.
• * 1.10

  Plut. plac. phil. 1. 3. Iust. Mart. paraen
• * 1.11

  De nat. deor. 1.
• * 1.12

  Plac. Phil. 1. 7.
• * 1.13

  Stob.
• * 1.14

  Stob.
• * 1.15

  Stob.
• * 1.16

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 20.
• * 1.17

  Plut plac. phil. 2. 21▪
• * 1.18

  Laert.
• * 1.19

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 24 Stob.
• * 1.20

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 25.
• * 1.21

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 29. Stob.
• * 1.22

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 28.
• * 1.23

  Laert.
• * 1.24

  As a learned person concei∣ves, upon those words of Laert.
• * 1.25

  See Erasm. Reinholdus in Theoricas pur∣bachii pag. 164
• * 1.26

  Plut. plac. phil. 3. 7.
• * 1.27

  Plut. plac. phil. 3. 3.
• * 1.28

  Nat. quaest. 2. 18
• * 1.29

  Sen. nat. quaest. 2. 19.
• * 1.30

  Plut▪ plac. phil▪