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

ANAXAGORAS.

CHAP. I.

Anaxagoras Country, time, and study of Philosophy.

ANaxagoras was of Clazomenae, son of Hegesibu∣lus or Eubulus, born in the 70th. Olympiad according to Apollodorus; in the first yeare thereof; Eminent for his noble birth and wealthy fortunes, but more for his magna∣nimous contempt of them.* 1.1 Hee left his lands and patrimony, (saith* 1.2 Cicero,) to learn and obtain the divine delight of Philosophy: and* 1.3 converted himselfe from civill affairs to the knowledge of things. Sutdas affirms he left his grounds to sheep and Camells to be eaten up; and therefore Apollonius Tyaneas said, he read Philosophy to beasts rather then to men.* 1.4 Plato, derides him for quitting his estate; Laertius reports he assign'd it to his friends; whereupon being by them accused of improvidence; why (answered he) do not you take care of it? To one who reproved him as taking no care of his Coun∣try, wrong me not, said he, my greatest care is my Country, pointing to the Heavens. To another asking for what end he was born, he answered, to contempla ••e the Sun, Moon and Heavens.* 1.5 In fine, he withdrew himself to contemplation of naturall Philosophy not regarding civill affairs. In this study Anaximenes was his Master* 1.6 from whom he received his learning.

* 1.7 In the twentieth year of his age the first of the 75. Olym∣piad, Colliades being Archon (whom Laertius corruptly calls Callias) at the time of Xerxes expedition into Greece he went to Athens to study Philosophy, where he continued thirty yeares, and was honored with the title of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Mind, ad being the first that added that principle to matter, so Amon.

Where ••wells fam'd Anaxagoras, the mind, * 1.8 For he that agent first to matter joyn'd Which things confused orderly design'd.

CHAP. II.

Of his opinions.

Sect. 1. Of the first principles, and beginning of things.

HE held that the materiall principle of all things is one and ma∣ny (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) par••s in••inite, similar, and contrary, continuous to the touch,* 1.9 sustaining themselves,* 1.10 not contain'd by any other.* 1.11 His grounds these: First, because, according to the common rule of naturall Philosophers, of nothing proceeds nothing, it is not possible any thing can be made of that which is not; or that which hath a being can be resolved into that which hath none, Secondly, because contraries are made mutually of each other, therefore they were in each other before; for if it be necessary, that whatsoever is made, be made of that which is, or is not, but that it should be made of that which is not impossible, wherein all agree, that ever discoursed upon nature, it followes necessarily, that they be made of things that are, and are with∣in these very things, though by reason of their smallnesse, not discernable by us: Hence is it that they say, every thing is mixt with every thing; because they see any thing made of any thing: but things seem different, and are called diverse in re∣spect to one another, by reason that the multitude of infinites which are within aboundeth in the mistion; for the whole is neither quite white nor black, flesh nor bone, but every thing seemeth to be of the nature of that whereof it hath most* 1.12 of simple nourishment, as bread, water, and the like, are bred the hair, veines, arteries, nerves, bones, and other parts of the bo∣dy, all things are therefore in this food, as nerves, bones, and the like, discernable by reason, though not by sense: Of these Atomes the whole world consisteth,* 1.13 as gold of grains; these homogeneall parts are the matter of all things▪ his opinion is thus exprest by* 1.14 Lucretius.

Next Anaxagoras we must pursue, And his Homoiomeria review; A term that's no where mention'd but among The Greeks; too copious for our na••row tongue: Yet may the sense be in more words arraid; The principle of all things, entrailes made Of smallest entrails, bone of smallest bone, Blood of small sanguine drops reduc'd to one; Gold of small graines, earth of small sands compacted, Small drops to water, sparks to fire contracted; The like in every thing suppos'd, yet he

Nature asserted from all vacuum free; And held that each corporeall being might Be subdivided into infinite.

That* 1.15 God is an infinite selfe-moving mind, that this di∣vine * 1.16 infinite mind, not inclosed in any body,* 1.17 is the efficient cause of all things; out of the infinite matter consisting of simi∣lar parts, every thing being made according to its species by the divine minde, who, when all things were at first con∣fusedly mingled together, came and reduced them to order.

Sect 2. Of the Heavens.

That the higher parts of the world are full office, the power that is there he called aether, and that properly, saith Aristotle,* 1.18 for the body, which is continually in quick motion, is conceived to be divine by nature, for that reason called aether, none of those that are here below being of that kind.

That

* 1.19 the ambient aether being of a fiery nature by the swiftnesse of its motion, snatcheth up stones from the earth, which being set on fire, become starres,* 1.20 all carried from East to West.

That* 1.21

the Startes are impelled by the condensation of the aire about the Poles, which the Sun makes more strong by compressing.

That

the starres are earthly, and that after the first secreti∣on of the Elements, the fire separating it selfe, drew some parts of the earth to its own nature, and made them like fire: Whereupon he farther affirmed

* 1.22 The Sun is a burning plate or stone,* 1.23 many times bigger

then Peloponnesus, whose conversionn is made by the repulse of the Northern aire, which he, by compressing, makes more strong.

* 1.24

the Moon is a dark body, enlightned by the Sun, habitable, having plaines, hills and waters; that* 1.25 the ine∣quality in her face proceeds from a mixture, cold and earth∣ly, for there is darknesse mixt with her fiery nature, whence she is called a star of false light.

* 1.26 Plato saith, that the Moon was occasion of dishonour to him, because he assumed the ori∣ginall of this opinion of her borrowing light to himselfe, where∣as it was much moreantient.

That

* 1.27 the milky way is the shadow of the earth upon that part of heaven, when the Sun, being underneath, enlightens not all:

* 1.28 Or as Aristotle, that

the Milkie way is the light of some starres, for the Sun being under the earth, looks not upon some starres, the light of those on whom he looks is not seen, being swallowed up in his; the proper light of those

which are hindred by the earth from the Suns illumination, is the Galaxy;

Laertius saith,

he held the Galaxy to be the re∣flection of the light of the Sun.

Sect. 3. Of Meteors.

THat

Comets are the co••apparition of wandring starres,

* 1.29 which approach so near each other, as that they seem to touch one another: Or as Laertius;

the concourse of Planets, emitting flames.

That

falling starres are shot down from the aether, as spar∣kles, and therefore soon extinguished.

That

* 1.30 Thunder is the collision of Clouds, lightning their mutuall attrition:

Or as Plutarch;

the cold falling upon the hot, or the aetheriall,* 1.31 upon the aeriall, the noise which it makes is Thunder: of the blacknesse of the cloud is caused lightning, of the greatnesse of the light Thunderbolts, of the more corporeall fire whirle-winds, of the more cloudy Pre∣sters.

That

lightning distills from the aether;

and that

from that great heat of Heaven many things fall down, which the clouds preserve a long time enclosed.

That the

Rain-bow is a refraction of the Suns light upon a thick dark cloud,

* 1.32 opposite to him as a looking glasse; by the same reason (faith he) appeared chiefly in Pontus, two, or more Suns.

That

Earth quakes are caused by the aire or aether, which being of its own nature apt to ascend,* 1.33 when it gets into the veines and cavernes of the earth, finding difficulty in the getting out, causeth that shaking; for the upper parts of the earth contract themselves by the benefit of rain, Na∣ture having made the whole body thereof alike, laxe and spungy, the parts, as in a Ball, superiour, and inferiour, the superiour, that which is inhabited by us, the inferiour, the other: This wind getting into the inferiour parts, breaks the condensed aire, with the same force as we see clouds broken, when, upon the collision of them, and motion of the agitated aire, sire breaks forth: this aire falls upon that which is next, seeking to get out, and tears in pieces whatsoever it meets, untill through those narrow passages, it either finds a way to Heaven, or forceth one: which Laer••ius obscurely expresseth, the repulsion of the air upon the earth.

THat

Snow is not white,* 1.34 but black, nor did it seem white to him, because he knew the water whereof it is congealed to be black.

Sect 4. Of the Earth.

THat

the begining of motion proceeding from the mind,

* 1.35 the heavie bodies obtained the lowest place, as the earth;

the light the highest, as the fire; those betwixt both, the middle, as the aire and water: thus the sea subsists upon the superficies of the earth, which is flat, the humidity being ratified by the Sun.

That

the primitive humidity being diffused,* 1.36 as a pool was burned by the motion of the Sun about it, and the unctuous part bring exhaled, the remainder became salt.

That

assoon as the world was made,* 1.37 and living creatures produced out of the world, the world enclined of it selfe to∣wards the south, according to divine providence; that some parts thereof might be habitable, others not habitable, by reason of the extremities of heat and cold.

That

the mistion of the Elements is by apposition.* 1.38

That

the inundation of Nilus is caused by the snow of Ae∣thiopia, which is dissolved in summer,* 1.39 and congealed in win∣ter.

Sect 5. Of living Creatures.

THat

Creatures were first generated of humidity, calidity,* 1.40 and earthly matter, afterwards mutually of one another, males on the right side, females on the left.

That

the soule is that which moveth,* 1.41 that it is aeriall, and hath a body of the nature of aire.

* 1.42 That there is a death of the soule likewise, which is separa∣tion from the body.

That all Animalls have active reason.

* 1.43 That sleep is an action of the body, not of the soul.

* 1.44 That in the hand of man consists all his skill.

* 1.45 That

the voice is made by the wind, hitting against firm resisting air, returning the counter-blow to our ears, which is the manner whereby also the repercussion of the air is formed, called Eccho.

That

the Gall is the cause of acute diseases, which over∣flowing, is dispersed into the lungs, veines, and costs.

CHAP. III.

His predictions.

SUidas saith, he foretold many things: of those, two instances onely have been hitherto preserved. The first thus related by Pliny, The Grecians celebrate Anaxagoras of the Clozomenian, and for foretelling by his learning and Science in the second yeare of the 78. Olympiad, on what day a stone would fall from the Sun, which hap∣pen'd in the day time in a part of Thrace at the river Agos which stone is at this day shewne about the bignesse of a became of an adust colour, a Comet also burning in those nights.

* 1.46 Plutarch adds, that it was in his time not onely shewen, but reverenced by the Peloponnesians. Eusebius reckons the fall of this stone upon the fourth yeare of the 78. Olympiad, which is two yeares after Pliny accompts of the prediction. Silenus cited by Laertius, saith, it fell when Dimylus was Archon, which if it be to be red Dyphilus (for the other name is not to be found neere these times) will be the first yeare of the 84 Olympiad. But the marble at Arundell House (graven about the 129. Olympiad to be preferred before any other chronologicall accompt) expressly names the fall upon the 4^th yeare upon the 77. Olympiad, when Theagenides was Archon, two yeares before. Pliny saith it was foretold. It was beleeved to have portended (as Plutarch testi∣fies) the great defeat given to the Athenians by Lysander at the river Agos 62. yeares after, viz. the fourth yeare of the 39. O∣lympiad.

Of the wonder* 1.47 Aristotle gives a very slight accompt, affir∣ming

It was a stone snatched up by the wind, and fell in the day time,

a Comet happening in those nights, which is dispro∣ved by* 1.48 Plutarch, who hath this large discourse upon it:

It is said that Anaxagoras did prognosticate that one of the bodies included the Heavens it should be loosed by shaking, & fall to the ground, the Stars are not in place where they were first cre∣ated, they are heavie bodies, of the nature of stone, shining by reflection of the aether, being drawn up by force, & kept there by the violence of that circular motion, as at the beginning in the first separation of things, cold & heavie they were restrai∣ned. There is another opinion more probable which saith, those which we call falling starres are not fluxions of the ae∣ther extinguisht in the aire almost as soon as lighted, nor in∣flammations or combustions of any part of the aire, which by it spreadeth upwards, but they are coelestiall bodies failing of their retention by the ordinary course of heaven throwne downe, not upon the habitable earth, but into the Sea, which is the cause we doe not see them; yet the assertion of Anax∣agoras

is confirmed by Damachus, who writeth in his book of Religion, that 75. daies together before this stone fell, they saw a great body of fire in the Air like a cloud enflamed, which tarried not in one place, but went and came uncer∣tainly removing, from the driving whereof issued flashes of fire that fell in many places like falling starrs; when this great body of fire fell in that part of the Earth, the Inhabitants em∣boldned, came to the place to see what it was, and found no appearance of fire but a great stone on the ground, nothing, in comparison of that body of fire. Herein Damachus had need of favourable hearers: But if what he saith be true, he confu∣seth those Arguments who maintain it was a piece of a Rock by the force of a boistrous wind torn from the top of a Moun∣tain, and carried in the air so long as this whirlwind continu∣ed, but so soon as that was laid, the stone fell immediately; unlesse this lightning body which appeared so many daies was fire indeed, which coming to dissolve, and to be put out did beget this violent storm of force to tear off the stone, and cast it down.

This it is likely* 1.49 Charimander meant, who in his book of Co∣mets saith, Anaxagoras observed in the Heavens a great unac∣customed light of the greatnesse of a huge pillar, and that it shined for many daies.

The other memorable prediction of Anaxagoras was* 1.50 of a storm, which hee signified by going to the Olympick games, when the weather was fair in a shaggy gown, the rain powring down all the Graecians (saith Aelian) saw and gloried, that hee knew more divinely then according to humane Nature.

CHAP. IV.

His Scholers and Auditors.

THese are remembred as his Scholars and Auditors. * 1.51 Pericles Son of Xantippas being instructed by Anaxagoras, could easily reduce the exercise of his mind from secret obstru∣sive things to publick popular causes▪* 1.52 Pericles much esteemed him, was by him instructed in natural Philosophy, and besides o∣ther virtues fre'd from superstitious fears arising from ignorance of physicall causes; whereof there is this instance; the head of a Ram with but one horn being brought to Pericles, was by the South sayers interpreted prodigious: Anaxagoras opening it, showed that the brain filled not its naturall place, but contract∣ed by degrees in an ovall form toward that part where the horn grew. Afterwards Anaxagoras neglected and decrepit with age in a melancholy resentment thereof lay down and co∣ver'd his face, resolving to starve himself, which▪ Pericles hea∣ring,

came immediately to him bewailing, not Anaxagoras, but himself, who should lose so excellent a Counsellor: Anaxago∣ras uncovering his face said, They, Pericles, who would use a Lamp, must apply it with oil.

Archela••s Son of Apollodorus was Disciple to Anaxagoras, and, as Laertius affirms, called the naturall Philosopher for first bring∣ing that kind of learning to Athens, but how that consists with his relation to Anaxagoras, who, as he acknowledgeth, studied naturall Philosophy thirty years in Athens, Casaubone justly questions.

Euripides,* 1.53 as the writer of his life affirms, son of Mnesar∣chus, born at the first time of Xe••xes's expedition into Greece, the same day that the Grecians overthrew the Persians, was first a Painter, then an Auditor of Anaxagoras; but seeing him perse∣cuted for his opin••ons, lastly converted himself to Tragick poesy.

Socrates, Son of Sophroniscus, was according to Aristoxenus an Auditor of Anaxagoras till he left the City, and thereupon ap∣plyed himself to Archelaus, which Porphyrius reckons above the 17th. year of his age, or rather the ninteenth.

Democritus also is by some affirmed, being younger then Anax∣agoras forty years, to have applyed himself to him, but Laertius affirms he could not endure Democritus, & shunn'd his conversa∣tion; Phavorinus likewise attests, that because he would not ad∣mit him, Democritus profess'd himself his Enemy, and denyed his opinions of the Sun and Moon, but said they were ancient, and that he stole them, as likewise his description of the world, and assertion concerning the mind.

Me••rodorus of Lampsacum is likewise mentioned by Laertius as friend to Anaxagoras.

CHAP. V.

OF his triall, Death sentences and writings.

Of his tryal saith Laertius there are several reports Sotion in his treatise of the succession of Philosophers saith, he was accused by Cleon of impiety, for asserting the Sun to be a burning plate, but being defended by Pericles his Scholar, hee was fined five Talents and banish'd.

Satyrus, that he was cited to the Court by Thucydides, who was of the contrary faction of Pericles,* 1.54 accused not onely of impie∣ty, but of holding intelligence with the Persians, and in his ab∣sence condemned to death; when news was brought him at the same time both of the death of his Sons, which (according to Aelian) were two,* 1.55 all that he had, and his own condemnation of the latter he said,* 1.56 Nature long since condemned both them & me

to death; of his* 1.57 Sons (* 1.58 with a calm look)* 1.59 You tell me nothing new or unexpected; I knew that I beget them mortall, which some ••∣scribe to Solon, others to Xenophon, Demetrius Phalereus saith, hee buried them with his own hands.

* 1.60 Hermippus, he was imprison'd to be put to death, but Peri∣cles appearing before the Judges, asked if they knew any thing in his life that they could accuse, to which they answered no∣thing, but I, saith he, am his disciple, then be not tansported by Calumnies to kill the man, but believe me and set him at liber∣ty, so he was dismissed, but not able to brook the disgrace, hee kill'd himself.

* 1.61 Hieronymus saith, that Pericles brought him into the Court in poor garments extenuated with sicknesse, an object ••itter for compassion then Justice. And thus much saith Laertius of his Tryall.

Suidas, that he was cast into Prison by the Athenians for in∣troducing a new opinion concerning God, and banish'd the Ci∣ty, though Pericles undertook to plead his cause, and that going to Lampsacum he there starv'd himself to death.

Iosephus, that the Athenians believing the Sun to be God, which he affirm'd to be without sense and Knowledge, hee was by the votes of a few of them condemned to death.

But if we credit* 1.62 Plutarch, he was neither condemned nor ac∣cused but by Pericles, who fear'd the Ordinance of Diopithes, which cited those that held prophane or sublime Opinions sent out of the City.* 1.63 Yet else-where hee confesseth he was accused.

His departure from Athens, being 30. years after his coming thither, falls the third year of the 82. Olimpiad the 63. of his age. Thence he went to Lampsacum, where he continued the rest of his age, which extended to 22. years more, so little mind∣full of A••hens, or of his Country, as to one, who told him that he was deprived of the Athenians, he answered, no, but they of me; and* 1.64 to his friends, who when hee fell sick, asked, if hee would be carried to Clazomonae his Country, no said he, there is no need, the way to the grave is alike every where.* 1.65 Before he died the Magistrates of the City asked him, if he would they should do any thing for him, hee answered, that his onely re∣quest was that the boyes might have leave to play yearly on that day of the month, whereon he died; which custom (saith Laertius) is continued to this time. Those of Lampsacum buried him magnificently with this Epitaph.

Here lies, who through the truest paths did passe O'th world Celestiall, Anaxagoras.

Aelian mentions two altars erected to him, one inscribed to

the mind, the other to truth; Laertius concludes his life with this Epigram.

Fam'd Anaxagoras the Sun defin'd A burning plate, 'for which to die design'd, Sav'd by his Scholar Pericles; But he * 1.66 Abandon'd life to seek Philosophie.

* 1.67 He is observed never to have been seen either to laugh or smile.

* 1.68 Being demanded if the Mountains of Lampsacum would in time become Sea, he answered, yes, if time fail not first.

* 1.69 Beholding the tomb of Mausolus, he said, a sumptuous Mo∣nument was a sign the substance was turned into stone.

* 1.70 He first affirmed the poesy of Homer to consist of virtue and Justice, to which Metrodorus added, that the Poet was skil∣full in naturall Philosophy.

* 1.71 He conceived that there are two lessons of death, the time before our birth, and sleep.

Laertius and Clemens Alexandrinus assert him first of the Philo∣sophers that put forth a Book. He writ.

Of Natural Philosophy, out of which Aristotle cites these fragments, All these things were together: which was the beginning of the book: and, ••o be such is to be changed.* 1.72 Plato this, The mind is the disposer and cause of all things.* 1.73 Athenaeus this, what is commonly called the milk of the hen, is the white of the egge.* 1.74 Plato censures the book as not using the mind at all, nor assiging any cause of the order of things, but aeriall, aetheriall and aquatick Natures, and the like incredible things for causes.

The quadrature of the Circle: which treatise* 1.75 Plutarch saith hee composed during his imprisonment.

* 1.76 There were three more of the same name; the first an Ora∣tour, follower of Isocrates: the second a statuary, mentioned by Antigonus; the last a Grammarian, Scholar to Zenodotus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plut. contra usar. Lysand
• * 1.2

  Tusc. quaest. S.
• * 1.3

  De orator. 3.
• * 1.4

  Hipp. ma••.
• * 1.5

  Laert.
• * 1.6

  Cicer. de Na. deor 1.
• * 1.7

  La••rt.
• * 1.8

  Laert. per∣haps 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  ••lut. plac. phil. 1. 3.
• * 1.10

  Arist. phys. 3. 4
• * 1.11

  Arist. phys. 3. 7
• * 1.12

  Plut.
• * 1.13

  Laert.
• * 1.14

  Lib. 1.
• * 1.15

  Lactan. fals. rel. 1. 5.
• * 1.16

  Cic. nat. deor. 1
• * 1.17

  August. cir. de••. 8. 2.
• * 1.18

  Aristot. Met. 1. 3.
• * 1.19

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 13.
• * 1.20

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 16.
• * 1.21

  plut, plac. phil. 2. 23.
• * 1.22

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 20. La∣ert. Achil. Tat. Isag. in Arat.
• * 1.23

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 21.
• * 1.24

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 25.
• * 1.25

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 30. Laert.
• * 1.26

  In Cratylo.
• * 1.27

  Plut. plac. phil.
• * 1.28

  Mei••eor. 1. 8.
• * 1.29

  Arist. Meteor. 1. 6.
• * 1.30

  Laert.
• * 1.31

  Plut. plac. phil. 3. 3.
• * 1.32

  Plut. plac. phil. 3. 5.
• * 1.33

  Arist. Meteor. 2. 7. Plut. plac▪ phil. 3. 15. Se∣nec. nat. quaest. 6.
• * 1.34

  Cic. Acad. qu••st. 4.
• * 1.35

  Laert.
• * 1.36

  Plut. plac. phil. 3. 16.
• * 1.37

  Plut. plac. phil. 2. 8.
• * 1.38

  Plut. plac. phil. 1. 17.
• * 1.39

  Plut. plac. phil. 4. 1.
• * 1.40

  Laert.
• * 1.41

  Plu▪ plac. phil. 4. ••.
• * 1.42

  plut plac. phil. 5. 24.
• * 1.43

  Plut. plac. phil. 5. 25.
• * 1.44

  Plut. plac. phil. 5. 25.
• * 1.45

  Plut. de am••∣re frat.
• * 1.46

  Vit. Ly••and.
• * 1.47

  Meteor. 1. 7.
• * 1.48

  Vit. Lysand.
• * 1.49

  Senec. nat. quaest. 7. 5.
• * 1.50

  Suid.
• * 1.51

  Cicer.
• * 1.52

  Plut. vit. Pericl.
• * 1.53

  His words (because never published) these: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.54

  Laert.
• * 1.55

  Cic. Tus••. qu••st. 3. Plut. de ira cohib.
• * 1.56

  Varr. hist. 3.
• * 1.57

  Plut. consol. ad Apol••on.
• * 1.58

  Simplic. in Epiclet.
• * 1.59

  Val. Max. 5. 10.
• * 1.60

  Laert.
• * 1.61

  Laert.
• * 1.62

  Vit. Pericl▪
• * 1.63

  De superstit.
• * 1.64

  Cic Tus••. quaest. 1.
• * 1.65

  Plut. instruct. polit.
• * 1.66

  Aelian.
• * 1.67

  Laert.
• * 1.68

  Lacrt.
• * 1.69

  Laert.
• * 1.70

  Laert.
• * 1.71

  Stob.
• * 1.72

  Phys. 1. 5. Plut. Georg.
• * 1.73

  Hip. mai.
• * 1.74

  Lib. 2.
• * 1.75

  De exsul.
• * 1.76

  Laert.