Galilei, Galileo - The systems of the world

Galilei, Galileo, The systems of the world, 1661

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ther built thereon. I deny not, that this which Ariſtotle hitherto
hath introduced, with a general diſcourſe dependent upon univer
ſal primary principles, hathbeen ſince in proceſs of time, re-inforced
with particular reaſons, and experiments; all which it would be
neceſſary diſtinctly to conſider and weigh; but becauſe what hath
been ſaid hitherto preſents to ſuch as conſider the ſame many and
no ſmall difficulties, (and yet it would be neceſſary, that the pri
mary principles and fundamentals, were certain, firm, and eſtabliſh
ed, that ſo they might with more confidence be built upon) it
would not be amiſs, before we farther multiply doubts, to ſee if
haply (as I conjecture) betaking our ſelves to other waies, we may
not light upon a more direct and ſecure method; and with better
conſidered principles of Architecture lay our primary fundamen
tals. Therefore ſuſpending for the preſent the method of Ariſto
tle, (which we will re-aſſume again in its proper place, and parti
cularly examine;) I ſay, that in the things hitherto affirmed by

him, I agree with him, and admit that the World is a body enjoy
ing all dimenſions, and therefore moſt perfect; and I add, that as
ſuch, it is neceſſarily moſt ordinate, that is, having parts between
themſelves, with exquiſite and moſt perfect order diſpoſed; which
aſſumption I think is not to be denied, neither by you or any
other.

The circular line
perfect, according
to Ariſtotle, and
but the right im
perfect, and why.

The world is ſup
poſed by the Au
thor to be perfectly
ordinate.

SIMPL. Who can deny it? the firſt particular (of the worlds
dimenſions) is taken from Ariſtotle himſelf, and its denominati
on of ordinate ſeems onely to be aſſumed from the order which it
moſt exactly keeps.

Streight motion
impoſſible in the
world exactly or
dinate.

SALV. This principle then eſtabliſhed, one may immediately
conclude, that if the entire parts of the World ſhould be by their
nature moveable, it is impoſſible that their motions ſhould be
right, or other than circular; and the reaſon is ſufficiently eaſie,
and manifeſt; for that whatſoever moveth with a right motion,
changeth place; and continuing to move, doth by degrees more
and more remove from the term from whence it departed, and
from all the places thorow which it ſucceſſively paſſed; and if
ſuch motion naturally ſuited with it, then it was not at the be
ginning in its proper place; and ſo the parts of the World were
not diſpoſed with perfect order. But we ſuppoſe them to be per
fectly ordinate, therefore as ſuch, it is impoſſible that they ſhould
by nature change place, and conſequently move in a right moti

on. Again, the right motion being by nature infinite, for that
the right line is infinite and indeterminate, it is impoſſible that

any moveable can have a natural principle of moving in a right
line; namely toward the place whither it is impoſſible to arrive,

there being no præ-ſinite term; and nature, as Ariſtotle himſelf
ſaith well, never attempts to do that which can never be done,

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