Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical OpinionsNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Physics -- Early works to 1800
There are numerous Varieties of Figurative Motions in some Creatures;
and in others, very few, in comparison: but, the occasion of that, is
the manner of the Frame and Form of a Creature: for, some Creatures
that are but small, have much more variety of Figurative Motions, than
others that are very bigg and large Creatures: so that, it is not only
the Quantity of Matter, or Number of Parts, but the several Changes
of Motion, by the Variety of their Active Parts, that is the cause of
it: for, Nature is not only an Infinite Body, but, being Self-moving,
causes Infinite Variety, by the altered Actions of her Parts; every
altered Action, causing both an altered Self-knowledg, and an altered
Perceptive Knowledg.
CHAP. III. Of the Variety of Corporeal Motion, of one and the same sort
or kind of Motion.
There is Infinite Variety of Motion of the same sorts and kinds of
Motions; as for example, Of Dilatations, or Extensions, Expulsions,
Attractions, Contractions, Retentions, Digestions, Respirations:
There is also Varieties of Densities, Rarities, Gravities, Levities,
Measures, Sizes, Agilness, Slowness, Strength, Weakness, Times,
Seasons, Growths, Decays, Lives, Deaths, Conceptions, Perceptions,
Passions, Appetites, Sympathies, Antipathies, and Millions the like
kinds, or sorts.
CHAP. IV. Of the Variety of particular Creatures.
Nature is so delighted with _Variety_, that seldom two Creatures
(although of the same sort, nay, from the same Producers) are just
alike; and yet Human Perception cannot perceive above four kinds of
Creatures, viz. _Animals, Vegetables, Minerals_, and _Elements_: but,
the several sorts seem to be very numerous; and the Varieties of the
several Particulars, Infinite: but, Nature is necessitated to divide
her Creatures into Kinds and Sorts, to keep Order and Method: for,
there may be numerous Varieties of sorts; as for example, Many several
Worlds, and infinite Varieties of Particulars in those _Worlds_: for,
Worlds may differ from each other, as much as several sorts of Animals,
Vegetables, Minerals, or Elements; and yet be all of that sort we name
Worlds: but, as for the Infinite Varieties of Nature, we may say, That
every Part of Nature is Infinite, in some sort; because every Part
of Nature is a perpetual Motion, and makes Infinite Varieties, by
change or alteration of Action: but, there is so much Variety of the
several Shapes, Figures, Forms, and Sizes, as, Bigger, and Less; as
also, several sorts of Heats, Colds, Droughts, Moistures, Fires, Airs,
Waters, Earths, Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, as are not to be
expressed.
CHAP. V. Of Dividing, and Rejoyning, or Altering Exterior Figurative
Motions.
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