Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural Philosophy
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676; Philosophy
any other smooth glassie body, is, in my opinion, onely made by the
motions of the Looking-glass, which do both pattern out, and present
the figure of an external object in the Glass: But you will say, why do
not the motions of other bodies pattern out, and present the figures
of external objects, as well as smooth glassie bodies do? I answer,
they may pattern out external objects, for any thing I know; but the
reason that their figures are not presented to our eyes, lies partly
in the presenting subject it self, partly in our sight; for it is
observed, that two things are chiefly required in a subject that will
present the figure of an external object; first it must be smooth, even
and glassie, next it must not be transparent: the first is manifest
by experience; for the subject being rough and uneven, will never be
able to present such a figure; as for example, A piece of steel rough
and unpolished, although it may perhaps pattern out the figure of an
external object, yet it will never present its figure, but as soon as
it is polished, and made smooth and glassie, the figure is presently
perceived. But this is to be observed, that smooth and glassie bodies
do not always pattern out exterior objects exactly, but some better,
some worse; like as Painters have not all the same ingenuity; neither
do all eyes pattern out all objects exactly; which proves that the
perception of sight is not made by pressure and reaction, otherwise
there would be no difference, but all eyes would see alike. Next I
say, it is observed, that the subject which will present the figure
of an external object, must not be transparent; the reason is, that
the figure of Light being a substance of a piercing and penetrating
quality, hath more force on transparent, then on other solid dark
bodies, and so disturbs the figure of an external object pattern'd out
in a transparent body, and quite over-masters it. But you will say, you
have found by experience, that if you hold a burning Candle before a
Transparent-glass, although it be in an open Sun-light, yet the figure
of light and flame of the Candle will clearly be seen in the Glass. I
answer, that it is an other thing with the figure of Candle-light, then
of a duskish or dark body; for a Candle-light, though it is not of the
same sort as the Suns light, yet it is of the same nature and quality,
and therefore the Candle-light doth resist and oppose the light of the
Sun, so that it cannot have so much power over it, as over the figures
of other bodies patterned out and presented in Transparent-glass.
Lastly, I say, that the fault oftentimes lies in the perceptive
motions of our sight, which is evident by a plain and Concave-glass;
for in a plain Looking-glass, the further you go from it, the more
your figure presented in the glass seems to draw backward; and in a
Concave-glass, the nearer you go to it, the more seems your figure
to come forth: which effects are like as an house or tree appears to
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