Ocellus Lucanus on the nature of the universe : $b Taurus, the Platonic philosopher, on the eternity of the world. Julius Firmicus Maternus of the thema mundi. Select theorems on the perpetuity of time, by Proclus. — Plato — John Shaqi
Ocellus Lucanus on the nature of the universe : $b Taurus, the Platonic philosopher, on the eternity of the world. Julius Firmicus Maternus of the thema mundi. Select theorems on the perpetuity of time, by Proclus.
Plato · en
powers of fire, but one of earth; as it is fit that what is near should
rather communicate with it, than what is separated in the third rank from
it.
“Again, since earth has three physical powers, contrary to the powers of
fire, viz. grossness of parts, obtuseness, and difficulty of motion; by
taking away difficulty of motion, and introducing facility of motion, we
shall produce water, which consists of gross parts, is obtuse, and is
easily moved; and which has indeed two sides or powers common with earth,
but receives one from fire. And thus these media will be spontaneously
conjoined with each other; communicating indeed in twofold powers, but
differing in similitude by one power; and the extremes will be bound
together by two media. Each element also will thus be in a greater
degree conjoined to, than separated from, the element which is near to
it; and one world will be perfectly effected through all of them, and
one harmonious order, through the predominance of analogy. Thus also, of
the two cubes 8 and 27, the medium 12 being placed next to 8, will have
two sides of this, but one side of 27. For 12 is produced by 2 × 2 × 3.
But it is vice versâ with 18. For this is produced by 3 × 3 × 2. And the
side of 27 is 3, in the same manner as 2 is the side of 8. The physical
dogmas, therefore, of Plato, about the elements of the universe, accord
with mathematical speculations.”
In the Introduction to my Translation of the Timæus of Plato, I have
added the following numbers, for the purpose of representing this
beautiful distribution of the elements, by Proclus, arithmetically.
Let the number 60 represent fire, and 480 earth; and the media between
these, viz. 120 and 240, will correspond to air and water. For, as 60 :
120 :: 240 : 480. But 60 = 3 × 5 × 4, 120 = 3 × 10 × 4, 240 = 6 × 10 ×
4, and 480 = 6 × 10 × 8. So that these numbers will correspond to the
properties of the elements as follows:
Fire. Air.
3 × 5 × 4 3 × 10 × 4 ::
Subtle, acute, moveable. Subtle, blunt, moveable.
Water. Earth.
6 × 10 × 4 : 6 × 10 × 8.
Dense, blunt, moveable. Dense, blunt, immoveable.