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
Lastly your desire was to know, _Whether a part of matter
may be so small, as it cannot be made less?_ I answer, there is no such
thing in nature as biggest or least, nature being Infinite as well in
her actions as in her substance; and I have mentioned in my book of
Philosophy, and in a letter, I sent you heretofore concerning Infinite,
that there are several sorts of Infinites, as Infinite in quantity or
bulk, Infinite in number, Infinite in quality, as Infinite degrees
of hardness, softness, thickness, thinness, swiftness, slowness, &c.
as also Infinite compositions, divisions, creations, dissolutions,
&c. in nature; and my meaning is, that all these Infinite actions
do belong to the Infinite body of nature, which being infinite in
substance must also of necessity be infinite in its actions; but
although these Infinite actions are inherent in the power of the
Infinite substance of nature, yet they are never put in act in her
parts, by reason there being contraries in nature, and every one of
the aforementioned actions having its opposite, they do hinder and
obstruct each other so, that none can actually run into infinite; for
the Infinite degrees of compositions hinder the infinite degrees of
divisions; and the infinite degrees of rarity, softness, swiftness,
&c. hinder the infinite degrees of density, hardness, slowness, &c.
all which nature has ordered with great wisdom and Prudence to make an
amiable combination between her parts; for if but one of these actions
should run into infinite, it would cause a horrid confusion between
natures parts, nay an utter destruction of the whole body of nature, if
I may call it whole: as for example, if one part should have infinite
compositions, without the hinderance or obstruction of division, it
would at last mount and become equal to the Infinite body of nature,
and so from a part change to a whole, from being finite to infinite,
which is impossible; Wherefore, though nature hath an Infinite natural
power, yet she doth not put this power in act in her particulars;
and although she has an infinite force or strength, yet she doth not
use this force or strength in her parts. Moreover when I speak of
Infinite divisions and compositions, creations and dissolutions, &c.
in nature, I do not mean so much the infinite degrees of compositions
and divisions, as the actions themselves to be infinite in number;
for there being infinite parts in nature, and every one having its
compositions and divisions, creations and dissolutions, these actions
must of necessity be infinite too, to wit, in number, according to the
Infinite number of parts, for as there is an Infinite number of parts
in nature, so there is also an infinite number and variety of motions
which are natural actions. However let there be also infinite degrees
of these natural actions, in the body or substance of infinite nature;
yet, as I said, they are never put in act, by reason every action
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