Hellenistic Philosophy Introductory

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

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(providing everything is clarified by the method of several different
explanations) consistently with the phenomena, when one accepts appro-
priately what is plausibly said about them. But when one accepts one
theory and rejects another which is equally consistent with the phenome-
non in question, it is clear that one has thereby blundered out of any
sort of proper physics and fallen into mythology. Some of the phenomena
which are within our [experience] and are observed just as they really
are do provide signs applicable to what comes to pass in meteorology,
but we cannot observe meteorological phenomena; for they can occur in
several different ways. 88. We must, however, observe the appearance
of each thing and, with regard to the things connected with it, we must
distinguish those whose coming to pass in several different ways is not
testified against by what happens within our experience.
A cosmos is a circumscribed portion of the heavens which contains
stars and an earth and all the phenomena, whose dissolution will involve
the destruction of everything within it; it is separated off from the
unlimited and terminates at a boundary which is either rare or dense; it
is either revolving or stationary; it has an outline which is either round
or triangular, or some shape or other. For all of these are possibilities. For
none of the phenomena in this cosmos testifies against [these possibilities],
since here it is not possible to grasp a limit [of our cosmos].



  1. It is possible to grasp that there is an unlimited number of such
    cosmoi; and that such a cosmos can come into existence both within
    a[nother] cosmos and in an intercosmos, which is what we call the interval
    between cosmoi, in a place containing much void and not in an extensive
    area which is completely void, as some people say; [this happens] when
    certain seeds of the right sort rush in from one cosmos or intercosmos-
    or even from several-[ thereby] gradually causing conjunctions and artic-
    ulations and movements to another place (if it so happen) and influxes
    from [atoms] which are in the right condition, until [the cosmos] is
    completed and achieves stability, [i.e.,] for as long as the foundations
    laid can accept additional material. 90. For one does not need just to
    have an aggregate come into being, or a rotation in the void in which a
    cosmos comes to be by necessity, as opinion holds, and [then] grows
    until it collides with another [cosmos], as one of the so-called physicists
    says. For this is in conflict with the phenomena.
    The sun and the moon and the other heavenly bodies did not come
    into being on their own and then get included by the cosmos, but they
    immediately began to take shape and grow (and similarly for the earth
    and sea) by means of infusions and rotations of certain natures with fine
    parts, either breath-like or fiery or both. For sense-perception suggests
    that they [come into being] thus.

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