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

CHAP. VIII.

His Distinctions.

OF his Distinctions Aristotle made this Collection in some piece not extant, cited by Laertius.

Good is threefold,

in the Soul, as Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, Tempe∣rance, and the like.

In the Body, as Beauty, good habit, strength.

Externall, as friends; prosperity of our Country; Wealth.

Friendship is three∣fold.

Naturall, which Parents bear to their Children, and kindred to one another; which kind is also amongst beasts.

Sociable, begotten by conversation, without any relati∣on of kindred; such was that betwixt Pylades and Orestes.

Hospitable, towards Guests, or wherewith we affect strangers even upon letters of recommendation.

Some adde a fourth kind, amatory.

Govern∣ment is of five kinds.

Democraticall; a Democracy is that wherein the peo∣ple rules and hath power to make Magistrates and Laws.

Aristocraticall; an Aristocracy is that wherein neither rich nor poor nor Nobles govern, but the best per∣sons of the whole City.

Oligarchicall; an Oligarchy is when Governours are e∣lected by the votes of Magistrates, for they are fewer then the poore.

Regall:

Elective by Law; as that of the Carthagini∣ans; for it is civill.

Successive in a Family; as that of the Lace∣daemonians and Macedonians, who confine themseves to a certain race.

Tyrannicall, Tyranny is that wherein men are brought to subjection either by fraud or force.

Iustice is threefold

Towards the Gods; they who sacrifice as the Law re∣quires, a••d perform the Divine rites, are just to∣wards the Gods.

Towards men: They who restore what was lent or committed to their trust, are just towards men.

Towwards the dead: They who take care of Sepulchers are just towards the dead.

Science is threefold.

Practick, as playing on the flute, lute, and the like; which effect nothing visible.

Mechanick, as architecture of Houses, Ships, or the like, which produceth a visible effect.

Theoretick, as Geometry, Harmonick, Astronomy, which act not, neither produce any thing. The Geometrician considers the proportion of lines to one another; Harmonick sounds: Astronomy stars and the World.

Medicine is of five kinds.

Pharmaceutick, cureth diseases by application of Me∣dicine.

Chirurgick by incision or cauterising.

Diaetetick, by diet.

Nosognomonick discernes diseases.

Boethetick removeth diseases.

Law is twofold.

Written; such are those by which states are governed.

Not written, grounded upon custom; as that no man shall go naked into the forum, or habited like a woman, is not forb••dden by any written law, but forborn because of the unwritten.

Speech is of five kinds.

Politicall, used in Orations by such as govern States.

Rhetoricall, used by Lawyers in pleading either to confirm, praise, dispraise or accuse.

Vulgar, used by people in common discourse.

Dialecticall, used by such as discourse in short questi∣ons and answers.

Artificiall, used by Tradesmen in their severall professions.

Musick is threefold.

Of the Voice onely.

Of the Voice and hands, as singing to the Lute.

Of the Hand only, as the Harp.

Nobility is of four kinds.

If the Predecessors were upright, just, and honest.

If the Predecessours were rulers of Princes.

If the Predecessours acquired honours, as the com∣mand of an Army, or were crown'd in publick games: those who are descended from such we call Noble.

If a man be endued with a generous mind; this is the best kind of Nobility.

Beauty is threefold.

Commendable, as a fair form.

Usefull, as an instrument, house, or the like.

Beneficiall, as all that belongs to institution of Laws.

The Soule hath three parts, the

Rationall, the principle whereby we judge, discourse, and the like.

Concupiscible, whereby we desire meat, coition, and the like.

Irascible, whereby we are emboldned, joyned, grie∣ved, enraged.

Perfect vir∣tue hath four kinds.

Wisdom, the principle of doing things aright.

Justice, the principle of doing things equally in pri∣vate conversation and publick affairs.

Fortitude, the principle of not flying danger through fear, but meeting it.

Temperance, the principle of subduing desires, and yielding to no pleasures, but living mode∣rately.

Govern∣ment is of five kinds.

By Law: Those who are chosen Magistrates in a City govern by Law.

By Nature: the males not only of mankind, but of most other creatures are predominant over the Females by nature.

By Custome, as that which Masters have over their Dis∣ciples.

By Descent, as the Lacedaemonian Kings, who succeed out of one Family: and in Macedonia they use the same custome.

By force, as those who rule a Kingdom against the will of the people.

Of Rhetorick are six kinds.

Adhortation, as when we perswade to war against any.

Dehortation, as when we disswade from War.

Accusation, when we declare that we have been in∣jured by one whom we prove cause of our mis∣fortune.

Defence, when a man proves he did not an injury or offence.

En••omium, when we speak well of another.

Vituperation, when we declare a man to be wicked.

Of Right speaking are four kinds; when wee speak

What is requisite; those things which will benefit both the hearer and speaker.

As much as is requisite, if we speak neither more nor lesse then concerns the businesse.

To those to whom it is requisite; as when we speak to old men that have done amisse in such terms as are fit for old men, or to young as becomes young.

When it is requisite, neither too soon nor too late; for if that be not observed, nothing can be spoken aright.

Benificence is of four kinds.

In Wealth, when we relieve the wants of any accor∣ding to our means.

In Body, when we succour those who are beaten.

In Knowledge, when we instruct, cure, teach any good.

In Speech, he, who pleadeth in defence of another, helpeth him in words.

The end of things is of four kinds

Legall, imposing an end to things by decree.

Naturall, such as dayes, years, and houres have.

Artificiall, as the building of a house.

Accidentall, by chance unexpected.

Of powers are four kinds

One in the minde, to think and conjecture.

Another of the body, to walk, give, receive, and the like.

A third, consisting in a multitude of Souldiers, and store of wealth, in which respect, Princes are called Powerfull.

The fourth, as to suffer good or evill to be done to us; as to be capable of Sicknesse, Learning, health, or the like.

Of Huma∣nity are three kinds.

In calling, as those who call all they meet, and salute them, taking them by the hand.

In relieving, in relieving the misfortunes of another willingly.

In feasting and conversation.

Felicity is divided into five parts.

Prudent Counsell, acquired by learning and experi∣ence.

Soundnesse of senses, consisting in the parts of the bo∣dy, as to see with the eyes, to hear with the ears, to smell and tast.

Prosperity of affairs, when those things which a man intendeth, he performeth fully.

Good reputation amongst men, when a man is well spoken of.

Plenty of riches, and things necessary to life, so as to be able to supply friends, and perform works of publick magnificence: He who hath all these five kinds is perfectly happy.

Arts are of three kinds.

The first diggeth out mettalls, and fells wood.

The second gives varietie of shape to things, as Wood∣work and Iron-work.

The third maketh use of these, as horsemanship of bridles, Soldiery, of arms, musick of instruments.

Good is of four kinds.

One, as wen wee call a man good from his proper goodnesse.

A second, as we call Virtue and Justice it self good.

A third, as we say, food, exercise and medicines are beneficiall.

The fourth good we call the act of playing on musick, or acting in a play.

Of things some are

Ill, alwaies capable to do hurt, as ignorance, impru∣dence, injustice, and the like.

Good, the contrary to the former;

Indifferent, which somtimes may benefit, sometimes hurt, as walking, sitting, eating, or cannot do hurt at all, being neither good nor bad.

Good Go∣vernment is threefold.

If the Laws be good.

If the Laws be well kept.

If without Laws the people live orderly by custome.

Ill Govern∣ment is threefold.

If the Laws be bad for Natives and Forainers.

If the Laws in being are not observed.

If there are no laws at all.

Contraries are of three kinds.

Good to ill, as justice to injustice, wisdom to impru∣dence, and the like.

Ill to ill, as prodigality to avarice, unjust torments to just.

Neither to neither, as heavy to light, swift to flow, black to white.

Good is of three kinds.

Some we have, as Justice and Health.

Of some we participate, as good it self cannot be had, but may be participated.

Some are sixt, which we can neither have, nor parti∣cipate as to be virtuous and just.

Consultati∣on is three∣fold.

From the Past, by example; as what befell the Lace∣daemonians through overmuch confidence.

From the present, as considering the timerousnesse of men, weakness of walls, scarcity of provision, and the like.

From the Future, as that Ambassadours should not be injured upon suspicion, least it cast infamy upon all Greece.

Voice is

Animate, of living creatures.

Articulate of men.

Inarticulate of Beasts.

I••animate, sounds and noise.

Tings are

Divisible, compoun∣ded as Syllables, Symphonies, li∣ving creatures, water, Gold.

Homogeneous, consist of similar parts, differing from the whole onely in number, as water, gold, and all liquid things.

Heterogeneous, consist of dissi∣milar parts.

Indivisible, com∣pounded of no∣thing, as a point, sound.

Things are

Absolute, requiring nothing else to expresse them, as a man, a horse and other creatures.

Relatives, which imply another thing, as greater (then others) swifter, fairer, and the like, for what is greater relates to somthing lesser, and the like.

These according to Aristotle were Plato's divisions of first things.