Page:Works of Plato his first fifty-five dialogues (Taylor 1804) (Vol 2 of 5) (IA Vol2worksofplato00plat).pdf/435

 INTRODUCTION TO THE TIM^EUS.

centre, and this can be no other than earth.

425

For, in an orderly progreſſion

of things, that which is moft diftant, and the laft, is the word ; and this we have already (hown is the earth.

But in a fphere, that which is moft diftant

from the fuperficies is the centre ; and, therefore, earth is the centre of the world. This conclusion, indeed, will doubtlefs be ridiculed by every fugacious modern, as too abfurd in fuch an enlightened age as the prefent to deferve the labour of a confutation.

However, as it follows by an inevitable con¬

sequence from the preceding theory, and this theory is founded on the har¬ monious union of things, we may fafely affert that it is confubfiftent with the univerfe itfelf.

At fuch a period, indeed, as the prefent, when there is

fuch a dire perverfion of religion, and men of every defeription are involved in extreme impiety, we cannot wonder that the Spirit of profane innovation fhould caufe a Similar confufion in the fyftem of the world.

For men of

the prefent day being deftitute of true Science, and act having the lead: knowledge of the true nature and progreffions of things, in the fir ft place make the univerfe an unconnected production, generated in time, and of courfe naturally lubjeCt to diffolution ; and, in the next place, allow of no eftential diftinCtion in its principal parts. Hence, the earth is by them hurled into the heavens, and rolled about their central fun in conjunction with the celeftial orbs.

The planets are fuppofed to be heavy bodies Similar to our

fluggifh earth ; the fixed ftars are all So many funs ; and the fun himfelf is a denfe, heavy body, occafionally Suffering dimnefs in his light, and covered with dark and fuliginous Spots.

With refpeCt to this laft particular, indeed,

they boaft of ocular conviction through the affiftance of the telefcope ; and what reafoning can invalidate the teftimony of the eyes ? I anfwer, that the eyes in this particular are more deceived when aflifted by glaftes, than when trufting to their own naked power of perceiving.

For, in reality, we do not

perceive the heavenly bodies themfelves, but their inflammations in the air : or, in other words, certain portions of air enkindled by the fwiftnefs of their courfe.

This at leaf: cannot be denied to be poftible; and, if lb, it is

not at all wonderful that a grofs aerial inflammation Should, when viewed through a telefcope, appear dim and clouded with Spots.

But this is not an

hypothefis of my own invention, but is derived from Ammonius Hermeas, who, as we are informed by Olympiodorus in the Phiedo, was of this opi¬ nion, as alfo was Heraclitus long before him ; who, Speaking (fays Olymvol. II.

31

piodorus)