Archimedes Texts

23
a case can never happen: and though it should, and that the se

parated part should return to its whole, it would not return as
grave or light, for that the same Aristotle proveth, that the Cœ
lestial Bodies are neither heavie nor light.

Arguments of A
ristotle, to prove
that grave bodies
move with an in
clination to arrive
at the centre of the
Vniverse.

SALV. With what reason I doubt, whether grave bodies move
by a right and perpendicular line, you shall hear, as I said be
fore, when I shall examine this particular argument. Touching
the second point, I wonder that you should need to discover the
Paralogism of Aristotle, being of it self so manifest; and that
you perceive not, that Aristotle supposeth that which is in questi
on: therefore take notice.

SIMPL. Pray Salviatus speak with more respect of Aristotle:
for who can you ever perswade, that he who was the first, only,
and admirable explainer of the Syllogistick forms of demonstration,

of Elenchs, of the manner of discovering Sophisms, Paralogisms, and
in short, of all the parts of Logick, should afterwards so notoriously
equivocate in imposing that for known, which is in question? It
would be better, my Masters, first perfectly to understand him,
and then to try, if you have a minde, to oppose him.

SALV. Simplicius, we are here familiarly discoursing among
our selves, to investigate some truth; I shall not be displeased
that you discover my errors; and if I do not follow the mind of
Aristotle, freely reprehend me, and I shall take it in good part.
Onely give me leave to expound my doubts, and to reply some
thing to your last words, telling you, that Logick, as it is well
understood, is the Organe with which we philosophate; but as it
may be possible, that an Artist may be excellent in making Or
gans, but unlearned in playing on them, thus he might be a great
Logician, but unexpert in making use of Logick; like as we have
many that theorically understand the whole Art of Poetry, and
yet are unfortunate in composing but meer four Verses; others

enjoy all the precepts of Vinci^{*}, and yet know not how to paint
a Stoole. The playing on the Organs is not taught by them who
know how to make Organs, but by him that knows how to play
on them: Poetry is learnt by continual reading of Poets: Limn
ing is learnt by continual painting and designing: Demonstration
from the reading of Books full of demonstrations, which are the
Mathematical onely, and not the Logical. Now returning to our
purpose, I say, that that which Aristotle seeth of the motion of
light bodies, is the departing of the Fire from any part of the
Superficies of the Terrestrial Globe, and directly retreating from
it, mounting upwards; and this indeed is to move towards a
circumference greater than that of the Earth; yea, the same A
ristotle makes it to move to the concave of the Moon, but that
this circumference is that of the World, or concentrick to it, so