The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 01 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
11. _That is said to be at rest, which, during any time, is in one
place; and that to be moved, or to have been moved, which, whether it be
now at rest or moved, was formerly in another place than that which it
is now in._ From which definitions it may be inferred, first, that
_whatsoever is moved, has been moved_; for if it be still in the same
place in which it was formerly, it is at rest, that is, it is not moved,
by the definition of _rest_; but if it be in another place, it has been
moved, by the definition of _moved_. Secondly, that _what is moved, will
yet be moved_; for that which is moved, leaveth the place where it is,
and therefore will be in another place, and consequently will be moved
still. Thirdly, that _whatsoever is moved, is not in one place during
any time, how little soever that time be_; for by the definition of
rest, that which is in one place during any time, is at rest.
There is a certain sophism against motion, which seems to spring from
the not understanding of this last proposition. For they say, that, _if
any body be moved, it is moved either in the place where it is, or in
the place where it is not; both which are false; and therefore nothing
is moved_. But the falsity lies in the major proposition; for that which
is moved, is neither moved in the place where it is, nor in the place
where is not; but from the place where it is, to the place where it is
not. Indeed it cannot be denied but that whatsoever is moved, is moved
somewhere, that is, within some space; but then the place of that body
is not that whole space, but a part of it, as is said above in the
seventh article. From what is above demonstrated, namely, that
whatsoever is moved, has also been moved, and will be moved, this also
may be collected, that there can be no conception of motion, without
conceiving past and future time.
[Sidenote: A point, a line, superficies, and solid, what they are.]