Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
Herophilus attributes a moving faculty to the nerves, arteries, and
muscles, but believes that the lungs are affected only with a natural
desire of enlarging and contracting themselves. Farther, there is the
first operation of the lungs by attraction of the outward air, which is
drawn in because of the abundance of the external air. Next to this,
there is a second natural appetite of the lungs; the breast, pouring in
upon itself the breath, and being filled, is no longer able to make an
attraction, and throws the superfluity of it upon the lungs, whereby
it is in turn sent forth by way of expiration; the parts of the body
mutually concurring to this function by the alternate participation of
fulness and emptiness. So that to lungs pertain four motions;—first,
when the lungs receive the outward air; secondly, when the outward air
thus entertained is transmitted to the breast; thirdly, when the lungs
again receive that air which they imparted to the breast; fourthly,
when this air then received from the breast is thrown outwards. Of
these four motions two are dilatations, one when the lungs attract the
external air, another when the breast dischargeth itself of it upon the
lungs; two are contractions, one when the breast draws into itself the
air, the second when it expels this which was insinuated into it. The
breast admits only of two motions;—of dilatation, when it draws from
the lungs the breath, and of contraction, when it returns what it did
receive.
CHAPTER XXIII.
OF THE PASSIONS OF THE BODY, AND WHETHER THE SOUL HATH A SYMPATHETICAL
CONDOLENCY WITH IT.
The Stoics say that all the passions are seated in those parts of
the body which are affected, the senses have their residence in the
commanding part of the soul. Epicurus, that all the passions and all
the senses are in those parts which are affected, but the commanding
part is subject to no passion. Strato, that all the passions and senses
of the soul are in the rational or commanding part of it, and are not
fixed in those places which are affected; for in this part patience
takes its residence, and this is apparent in terrible and dolorous
things, as also in timorous and valiant persons.
BOOK V.
CHAPTER I.
OF DIVINATION.
Plato and the Stoics introduce divination as a divine enthusiasm, the
soul itself being of a divine constitution, and this prophetic faculty
being an inspiration, or an illapse of the divine knowledge into man;
and so likewise they explain interpretation by dreams. And these same
admit many divisions of the art of divination. Xenophanes and Epicurus
utterly refuse any such art of foretelling future contingencies.
Pythagoras rejects all manner of divination which is by sacrifices.
Aristotle and Dicaearchus admit only these two kinds of it, a fury by a
divine inspiration, and dreams; they deny the immortality of the soul,
yet they affirm that the mind of man hath a participation of something
that is divine.
CHAPTER II.
WHENCE DREAMS DO ARISE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account