The Mathematicall Praeface to Elements of Geometrie of Euclid of Megara — John Shaqi
The Mathematicall Praeface to Elements of Geometrie of Euclid of MegaraDee, John
Philosophy
The Mathematicall Praeface to Elements of Geometrie of Euclid of Megara
Dee, John
Geometry -- Early works to 1800; Mathematics -- Early works to 1800; Philosophy -- Early works to 1800
Both, _Number_ and _Magnitude_, haue a certaine Originall sede, (as it
were) of an incredible property: and of man, neuer hable, Fully, to be
declared. Of _Number_, an Vnit, and of _Magnitude_, a Poynte, doo seeme
to be much like Originall causes: But the diuersitie neuerthelesse, is
great. We defined an _Vnit_, to be a thing Mathematicall Indiuisible:
A Point, likewise, we sayd to be a Mathematicall thing Indiuisible. And
farder, that a Point may haue a certaine determined Situation: that is,
that we may assigne, and prescribe a Point, to be here, there, yonder.
&c. Herein, (behold) our Vnit is free, and can abyde no bondage, or to
be tyed to any place, or seat: diuisible or indiuisible. Agayne, by
reason, a Point may haue a Situation limited to him: a certaine motion,
therfore (to a place, and from a place) is to a Point incident and
appertainyng. But an _Vnit_, can not be imagined to haue any motion.
A Point, by his motion, produceth, Mathematically, a line: (as we sayd
before) which is the first kinde of Magnitudes, and most simple: An
_Vnit_, can not produce any number. A Line, though it be produced of a
Point moued, yet, it doth not consist of pointes: Number, though it be
not produced of an _Vnit_, yet doth it Consist of vnits, as a materiall
cause. But formally,
[Number.]
Number, is the Vnion, and Vnitie of Vnits. Which vnyting and knitting,
is the workemanship of our minde: which, of distinct and discrete Vnits,
maketh a Number: by vniformitie, resulting of a certaine multitude of
Vnits. And so, euery number, may haue his least part, giuen: namely, an
Vnit: But not of a Magnitude, (no, not of a Lyne,) the least part can be
giuẽ: by cause, infinitly, diuision therof, may be conceiued. All
Magnitude, is either a Line, a Plaine, or a Solid. Which Line, Plaine,
or Solid, of no Sense, can be perceiued, nor exactly by hãd (any way)
represented: nor of Nature produced: But, as (by degrees) Number did
come to our perceiuerance: So, by visible formes, we are holpen to
imagine, what our Line Mathematicall, is. What our Point, is. So
precise, are our Magnitudes, that one Line is no broader then an other:
for they haue no bredth: Nor our Plaines haue any thicknes. Nor yet our
Bodies, any weight: be they neuer so large of dimensiõ. Our Bodyes, we
can haue Smaller, then either Arte or Nature can produce any: and
Greater also, then all the world can comprehend. Our least Magnitudes,
can be diuided into so many partes, as the greatest. As, a Line of an
inch long, (with vs) may be diuided into as many partes, as may the
diameter of the whole world, from East to West: or any way extended:
What priuiledges, aboue all manual Arte, and Natures might, haue our two
Sciences Mathematicall? to exhibite, and to deale with thinges of such
power, liberty, simplicity, puritie, and perfection? And in them, so
certainly, so orderly, so precisely to procede: as, excellent is that
workemã Mechanicall Iudged, who nerest can approche to the representing
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