1which would be indecent in a Child, much more in Ariſtotle; For
where is the occaſion of doubting? And who ſees not, that if Ariſtotle
had held, that Figure was in ſome ſort a Cauſe of Natation, he
would without the leaſt Heſitation have writ; That Figure is in a
certain ſort the Cauſe of Natation, and therefore the Plate of Lead
in reſpect of its large and expatiated Figure ſwims; but if we take
the propoſition of Ariſtotle as I ſay, and as it is writte n, and as
deed it is true, the enſuing words come in very oppoſitely, as well in
the introduction of ſwift and ſlow, as in the queſtion, which very
pertinently offers it ſelf, and would ſay thus much.
where is the occaſion of doubting? And who ſees not, that if Ariſtotle
had held, that Figure was in ſome ſort a Cauſe of Natation, he
would without the leaſt Heſitation have writ; That Figure is in a
certain ſort the Cauſe of Natation, and therefore the Plate of Lead
in reſpect of its large and expatiated Figure ſwims; but if we take
the propoſition of Ariſtotle as I ſay, and as it is writte n, and as
deed it is true, the enſuing words come in very oppoſitely, as well in
the introduction of ſwift and ſlow, as in the queſtion, which very
pertinently offers it ſelf, and would ſay thus much.
Figures are not the Cauſe of moving or not moving ſimply
wards or downwards, but of moving more quickly or ſlowly: But if
it be ſo, the Cauſe is doubtfull, whence it proceeds, that a Plate of
Lead or of Iron broad and thin doth ſwim, &c. And the occaſion of
the doubt is obvious, becauſe it ſeems at the firſt glance, that the
Figure is the Cauſe of this Natation, ſince the ſame Lead, or a leſs
quantity, but in another Figure, goes to the bottom, and we have
already affirmed, that the Figure hath no ſhare in this effect.
wards or downwards, but of moving more quickly or ſlowly: But if
it be ſo, the Cauſe is doubtfull, whence it proceeds, that a Plate of
Lead or of Iron broad and thin doth ſwim, &c. And the occaſion of
the doubt is obvious, becauſe it ſeems at the firſt glance, that the
Figure is the Cauſe of this Natation, ſince the ſame Lead, or a leſs
quantity, but in another Figure, goes to the bottom, and we have
already affirmed, that the Figure hath no ſhare in this effect.
Laſtly, if the intent of Ariſtotle in this place had been to ſay,
that Figures, although not abſolutely, are at leaſt in ſome meaſure
the Cauſe of moving or not moving: I would have it conſidered,
that he names no leſs the Motion upwards, than the other
wards: and becauſe in exemplifying it afterwards, he produceth
no other Experiments than of a Plate of Lead, and Board of Ebony,
Matters that of their own Nature go to the bottom, but by vertue
(as our Adverſaries ſay) of their Figure, reſt afloat; it is ſit that
they ſhould produce ſome other Experiment of thoſe Matters, which
by their Nature ſwims, but retained by their Figure reſt at the
bottom. But ſince this is impoſſible to be done, we conclude, that
Ariſtotle in this place, hath not attributed any action to the Figure
of ſimply moving or not moving.
that Figures, although not abſolutely, are at leaſt in ſome meaſure
the Cauſe of moving or not moving: I would have it conſidered,
that he names no leſs the Motion upwards, than the other
wards: and becauſe in exemplifying it afterwards, he produceth
no other Experiments than of a Plate of Lead, and Board of Ebony,
Matters that of their own Nature go to the bottom, but by vertue
(as our Adverſaries ſay) of their Figure, reſt afloat; it is ſit that
they ſhould produce ſome other Experiment of thoſe Matters, which
by their Nature ſwims, but retained by their Figure reſt at the
bottom. But ſince this is impoſſible to be done, we conclude, that
Ariſtotle in this place, hath not attributed any action to the Figure
of ſimply moving or not moving.
But though he hath exquiſitely Philoſophiz'd, in inveſtigating
the ſolution of the doubts he propoſeth, yet will I not undertake
to maintain, rather various difficulties, that preſent themſelves
unto me, give me occaſion of ſuſpecting that he hath not entirely
diſplaid unto us, the true Cauſe of the preſent Concluſion: which
difficulties I will propound one by one, ready to change opinion,
when ever I am ſhewed, that the Truth is different from what I ſay;
to the confeſſion whereof I am much more inclinable than to
the ſolution of the doubts he propoſeth, yet will I not undertake
to maintain, rather various difficulties, that preſent themſelves
unto me, give me occaſion of ſuſpecting that he hath not entirely
diſplaid unto us, the true Cauſe of the preſent Concluſion: which
difficulties I will propound one by one, ready to change opinion,
when ever I am ſhewed, that the Truth is different from what I ſay;
to the confeſſion whereof I am much more inclinable than to
Ariſtotle erred
in affirming a
Needle dimitted
long wayes to
ſink.
in affirming a
Needle dimitted
long wayes to
ſink.
Ariſtotle having propounded the Queſtion, whence it proceeds,
that broad Plates of Iron or Lead, float or ſwim; he addeth (as
it were ſtrengthening the occaſion of doubting) foraſmuch as other
things, leſs, and leſs grave, be they round or long, as for inſtance a
that broad Plates of Iron or Lead, float or ſwim; he addeth (as
it were ſtrengthening the occaſion of doubting) foraſmuch as other
things, leſs, and leſs grave, be they round or long, as for inſtance a