3. Relation to Latin writers 37 a. The function of the Christian writers 37 b. The development of the pagan thought 37 (1) The encyclopædias 38 (a) Characteristics 38 Decay of thought 38 Epitomizing tendency 39 Literary scholarship 39 Scientific scholarship 40 (b) Method of production 40 (c) Acceptability of encyclopædias to the church fathers 41 (d) Debt of Isidore to them 41 (2) The encyclopædias of education 43 4. The personal element contributed by Isidore 44 5. Sources used by Isidore 45 a. Confusion of the tradition 45 b. Investigations and their results 45 CHAPTER III ISIDORE’S GENERAL VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE 1. Introductory considerations 48 a. The difficulties in ascertaining the world-view 48 (1) Inconsistencies 48 (2) Unexplained preconceptions 48 b. Conditions favoring the construction of a world-view 49 2. The physical universe 50 a. Form of the universe 50 Question of the sphericity of the earth 50 Greek cosmology versus Christian cosmology 54 b. Size of the universe 54 c. Constitution of matter 55 The four elements 55 Properties 55 Cosmological bearing 57 Bearing on the physical constitution of man 59 Use of the theory in medicine 59 Phenomena of meteorology explained by the theory 60 Seasons 61 d. Parallelism of man and the universe 62