A Discourse Presented to the Most Serene Don Cosimo II., Great Duke of Tuscany, Concerning the Natation of Bodies Vpon, and Submersion In, the Water.Galilei, Galileo
Science
A Discourse Presented to the Most Serene Don Cosimo II., Great Duke of Tuscany, Concerning the Natation of Bodies Vpon, and Submersion In, the Water.
Galilei, Galileo
Hydrostatics; Specific gravity
To that which for a finall conclusion, _Signor Buonamico_ produceth
of going about to reduce the descending or not descending, to the
easie and uneasie Division of the _Medium_, and to the predominancy of
the Elements: I answer, as to the first part, that that cannot in any
manner be admitted as a Cause, being that in none of the Fluid
_Mediums_, as the Air, the Water, and other Liquids, there is any
Resistance against Division[32], but all by every the least Force, are
divided and penetrated, as I will anon demonstrate: so, that of such
Resistance of Division there can be no Act, since it self is not in
being. As to the other part, I say, that the predominancy of the
Elements in Moveables[33], is to be considered, as far as to the excesse
or defect of Gravity, in relation to the _Medium_: for in that Action,
the Elements operate not, but only, so far as they are grave or light:
therefore, to say that the Wood of the Firre sinks not, because Air
predominateth in it, is no more than to say, because it is less grave
than the Water. Yea, even the immediate Cause, is its being less grave
than the Water[34]: and it being under the predominancy of the Air, is the
Cause of its less Gravity: Therefore, he that alledgeth the
predominancy of the Element for a Cause, brings the Cause of the
Cause, and not the neerest and immediate Cause. Now, who knows not
that the true Cause is the immediate, and not the mediate[35]? Moreover,
he that alledgeth Gravity, brings a Cause most perspicuous to Sence[36]:
The cause we may very easily assertain our selves; whether Ebony, for
example, and Firre, be more or less grave than water: but whether
Earth or Air predominates in them, who shall make that manifest?
Certainly, no Experiment can better do it than to observe whether they
swim or sink. So, that he who knows, not whether such a Solid swims,
unless when he knows that Air predominates in it, knows not whether it
swim, unless he sees it swim, for then he knows that it swims, when he
knows that it is Air that predominates, but knows not that Air hath
the predominance, unless he sees it swim: therefore, he knows not if
it swims, till such time as he hath seen it swim.
[32] Water & other fluids void of Resistance against Division.
[33] _T_he predominancy of Elements in Moveables to be considered
only in relation to their excess or defect of Gravity in reference
to the _Medium_.
[34] _T_he immediate Cause of Natation is that the Moveable is
less grave than the Water.
[35] _T_he Peripateticks alledge for the reason of Natation the
Cause of the Cause.
[36] Gravity a Cause most perspicuous to sence.
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