Physics 143
that there is nothing in the whole cosmos better than he; therefore, there
is something better; therefore, obviously, there is a god."- If you see a large and beautiful house, you could not be induced
to think that it was built by mice and polecats, even if you do not see
the master of the house. If, then, you were to think that the great ornament
of the cosmos, the great variety and beauty of the heavenly bodies, the
great power and vastness of the sea and land, were your own house and
not that of the immortal gods, would you not seem to be downright
crazy? Or do we not understand even this, that everything above is better
and that the earth is in the lowest position and is surrounded by the
densest form of air? As a result, for the same reason that applies when
we observe that some regions and cities have duller-witted inhabitants
because of the more congested nature of their climatic conditions, the
human race too is afflicted by this because men are located on the earth,
i.e., in the densest part of the universe. 18. And yet, we ought to infer
from the very cleverness of man that there is some intelligence [in the
universe as a whole], indeed one which is more acute and divine. For
where did man 'snatch' his own intelligence from (as Socrates puts it in
Xenophon)?^26 Indeed, if someone were to inquire about the source of the
moisture and heat which is distributed throughout our bodies, and of
the earthy solidity of our organs, and finally about [the source of] the
air-like spirit [i.e., pneuma] which we have, it appears that we derived
one from the earth, another from the moisture, another from fire, and
another from the air which we inhale as we breathe. But the most
important of these, I mean reason and (if it is all right to use a number
of words) intelligence, planning, thought and prudence, where did we
find this? where did we derive it from? Or does earth have all the rest
and not have this one thing which is of the highest value? And yet, it is
certain that nothing at all is superior to or more beautiful than the cosmos;
and not only is there nothing better, but nothing can even be conceived
of which is better. And if nothing is better than reason and wisdom, it
is necessary that these be present in that which we have granted to be
the best. - What? Who is not compelled to accept what I say by [consideration
of] the tremendous sympathy, agreement and interconnected relation-
ships [of the cosmos]? Could the earth bloom at one time, and be barren
at another in turn? Could the approach and retreat of the sun at the
summer and winter solstices be known by the manifold changes of things?
Could the sea tides in channels and straits be moved by the risings and
settings of the moon? Or could the variable orbits of the heavenly bodies - Memorabilia 1.4.8.