SAGR. In my judgment this is found. Make the Earth the
Primum mobile, that is, make it turn round its own axis in twenty
four hours, and towards the ſame point with all the other Spheres;
and without participating this ſame motion to any other Planet or
Star, all ſhall have their riſings, ſettings, and in a word, all their
other appearances.
Primum mobile, that is, make it turn round its own axis in twenty
four hours, and towards the ſame point with all the other Spheres;
and without participating this ſame motion to any other Planet or
Star, all ſhall have their riſings, ſettings, and in a word, all their
other appearances.
SIMPL. The buſineſs is, to be able to make the Earth move
without athouſand inconveniences.
without athouſand inconveniences.
SALV. All the inconveniences ſhall be removed as faſt as you
propound them: and the things ſpoken hitherto are onely the
primary and more general inducements which give us to believe
that the diurnal converſion may not altogether without
lity be applyed to the Earth, rather than to all the reſt of the
niverſe: the which inducements I impoſe not upon you as
lable Axioms, but as hints, which carry with them ſomewhat of
likelihood. And in regard I know very well, that one ſole
periment, or concludent demonſtration, produced on the contrary
part, ſufficeth to batter to the ground theſe and a thouſand other
probable Arguments; therefore it is not fit to ſtay here, but proceed
forwards and hear what Simplicius anſwereth, and what greater
probabilities, or ſtronger arguments he alledgeth on the contrary.
propound them: and the things ſpoken hitherto are onely the
primary and more general inducements which give us to believe
that the diurnal converſion may not altogether without
lity be applyed to the Earth, rather than to all the reſt of the
niverſe: the which inducements I impoſe not upon you as
lable Axioms, but as hints, which carry with them ſomewhat of
likelihood. And in regard I know very well, that one ſole
periment, or concludent demonſtration, produced on the contrary
part, ſufficeth to batter to the ground theſe and a thouſand other
probable Arguments; therefore it is not fit to ſtay here, but proceed
forwards and hear what Simplicius anſwereth, and what greater
probabilities, or ſtronger arguments he alledgeth on the contrary.
One ſingle
periment, or ſound
demonſtration
tereth down all
guments meerly
probable.
periment, or ſound
demonſtration
tereth down all
guments meerly
probable.
SIMPL. I will firſt ſay ſomething in general upon all theſe
ſiderations together, and then I will deſcend to ſome particulars.
It ſeems that you univerſally bottom all you ſay upon the greater
ſimplicity and facility of producing the ſame effects, whilſt you
hold, that as to the cauſing of them, the motion of the Earth
lone, ſerveth as well as that of all the reſt of the World, the Earth
deducted: but as to the operations, you eſteem that much eaſier
than this. To which I reply, that I am alſo of the ſame opinion,
ſo long as I regard my own not onely finite, but feeble power;
but having a reſpect to the ſtrength of the Mover, which is
finite, its no leſſe eaſie to move the Univerſe, than the Earth,
yea than a ſtraw. And if his power be infinite, why ſhould he not
rather exerciſe a greater part thereof than a leſſe? Therefore,
I hold that your diſcourſe in general is not convincing.
ſiderations together, and then I will deſcend to ſome particulars.
It ſeems that you univerſally bottom all you ſay upon the greater
ſimplicity and facility of producing the ſame effects, whilſt you
hold, that as to the cauſing of them, the motion of the Earth
lone, ſerveth as well as that of all the reſt of the World, the Earth
deducted: but as to the operations, you eſteem that much eaſier
than this. To which I reply, that I am alſo of the ſame opinion,
ſo long as I regard my own not onely finite, but feeble power;
but having a reſpect to the ſtrength of the Mover, which is
finite, its no leſſe eaſie to move the Univerſe, than the Earth,
yea than a ſtraw. And if his power be infinite, why ſhould he not
rather exerciſe a greater part thereof than a leſſe? Therefore,
I hold that your diſcourſe in general is not convincing.
Of an infinite
power one would
think a greater
part ſhould rather
be imploy'd than a
leſſe.
power one would
think a greater
part ſhould rather
be imploy'd than a
leſſe.
SALV. If I had at any time ſaid, that the Univerſe moved not
for want of power in the Mover, I ſhould have erred, and your
reproof would have been ſeaſonable; and I grant you, that to
an infinite power, it is as eaſie to move an hundred thouſand, as
one. But that which I did ſay, concerns not the Mover, but
ly hath reſpect to the Moveables; and in them, not onely to
their reſiſtance, which doubtleſſe is leſſer in the Earth, than in
the Univerſe; but to the many other particulars, but even now
conſidered. As to what you ſay in the next place, that of an
finite power it is better to exerciſe a great part than a ſmall: I
for want of power in the Mover, I ſhould have erred, and your
reproof would have been ſeaſonable; and I grant you, that to
an infinite power, it is as eaſie to move an hundred thouſand, as
one. But that which I did ſay, concerns not the Mover, but
ly hath reſpect to the Moveables; and in them, not onely to
their reſiſtance, which doubtleſſe is leſſer in the Earth, than in
the Univerſe; but to the many other particulars, but even now
conſidered. As to what you ſay in the next place, that of an
finite power it is better to exerciſe a great part than a ſmall: I