Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume I — David Hume — John Shaqi
Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume I
David Hume · en
the earth was still being constructed and put together, the bean was
produced. And he says that a proof of this is, that if one chews a bean
to pulp and puts it in the sun for some time (for this plays a direct
part in the matter), it will give out the smell of human seed. And he
says that another proof is even clearer. If when the bean is in flower,
we take the bean [Sidenote: p. 13.] and its blossom, put it into a jar,
anoint this, bury it in earth, and in a few days dig it up, we shall
see it at first having the form of a woman’s _pudenda_ and afterwards
on close examination a child’s head growing with it.
Pythagoras perished at Crotona in Italy having been burned along with
his disciples. And he had this custom that when any one came to him
as a disciple, he had to sell his possessions and deposit the money
under seal with Pythagoras, and remain silent sometimes for three and
sometimes for five years while he was learning. But on being again set
free, he mixed with the others and remained a disciple and took his
meals along with them. But if he did not, he took back what belonged to
him and was cast out. Now the Esoterics were called Pythagoreans and
the others Pythagorists. And of his disciples who escaped the burning
were Lysis and Archippus and Zamolxis, Pythagoras’ house-slave, who
is said to have taught the Druids among the Celts to cultivate the
Pythagorean philosophy. And they say that Pythagoras learned numbers
and measures from the Egyptians, and being struck with the plausible,
imposing and with difficulty disclosed wisdom of the priests,
[Sidenote: p. 14.] he imitated them also in enjoining silence and,
lodging his disciples in cells, made them lead a solitary life.[47]
3. _About Empedocles._
But Empedocles, born after these men, also said many things about the
nature of demons, and how they being very many go about managing things
upon the earth. He said that the beginning of the universe was Strife
and Friendship and that the intellectual fire of the monad is God,
and that all things were constructed from fire and will be resolved
into fire.[48] In which opinion the Stoics also nearly agree, since
they expect an ecpyrosis. But most of all he accepted the change into
different bodies, saying:
“For truly a boy I became, and a maiden,
And bush, and bird of prey, and fish,
A wanderer from the salt sea.”[49]
[Sidenote: p. 15.] He declared that all souls transmigrated into all
living things.[50] For Pythagoras the teacher of these men said
he himself had been Euphorbus who fought at Ilion, and claimed to
recognize the shield.[51] This of Empedocles.
4. _About Heraclitus._