The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their worksFairbanks, Arthur
Philosophy
The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works
Fairbanks, Arthur
Philosophy, Ancient
ii. 2; 285 a 10. Wherefore one of the Pythagoreans might be surprised in
that they say that there are only these two first principles, the right
and the left, and they pass over four of them as not having the least
validity; for there is no less difference up and down, and front and back
than there is right and left in all creatures.
ii. 2; 285 b 23. And some are dwelling in the upper hemisphere and to the
right, while we dwell below and to the left, which is the opposite to
what the Pythagoreans say; for they put us above and to the right, while
the others are below and at the left.
ii. 9; 290 b 15. Some think it necessary that noise should arise when
so great bodies are in motion, since sound does arise from bodies among
us which are not so large and do not move so swiftly; and from the sun
and moon and from the stars in so great number, and of so great size,
moving so swiftly, there must necessarily arise a sound inconceivably
great. Assuming these things and that the swiftness has the principle of
harmony by reason of the intervals, they say that the sound of the stars
moving on in a circle becomes musical. And since it seems unreasonable
that we also do not hear this sound, they say that the reason for this
is that the noise exists in the very nature of things, so as not to
be distinguishable from the opposite silence; for the distinction of
sound and silence lies in their contrast with each other, so that as
blacksmiths think there is no difference between them because they are
accustomed to the sound, so the same thing happens to men.
ii. 9; 291 a 7. What occasions the difficulty and makes the Pythagoreans
say that there is a harmony of the bodies as they move, is a proof. For
whatever things move themselves make a sound and noise; but whatever
things are fastened in what moves or exist in it as the parts in a ship,
cannot make a noise, nor yet does the ship if it moves in a river.
ii. 13; 293 a 19. They say that the whole heaven is limited, the opposite
to what those of Italy, called the Pythagoreans, say; for these say that
fire is at the centre and that the earth is one of the stars, and that
moving in a circle about the centre it produces night and day. And they
assume yet another earth opposite this which they call the counter-earth
[ἀντίχθων], not seeking reasons and causes for phenomena, but stretching
phenomena to meet certain assumptions and opinions of theirs and
attempting to arrange them in a system.... And farther the Pythagoreans
say that the most authoritative part of the All stands guard, because it
is specially fitting that it should, and this part is the centre; and
this place that the fire occupies, they call the guard of Zeus, as it is
called simply the centre, that is, the centre of space and the centre of
matter and of nature.
iii. 1; 300 a 15. The same holds true for those who construct the heaven
out of numbers; for some construct nature out of numbers, as do certain
of the Pythagoreans.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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