THOMAS HOBBES.
London,
April 23, 1655.
THE
AUTHOR'S EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Think not, Courteous Reader, that the philosophy, the elements whereof I am going to set in order, is that which makes philosophers' stones, nor that which is found in the metaphysic codes; but that it is the natural reason of man, busily flying up and down among the creatures, and bringing back a true report of their order, causes and effects. Philosophy, therefore, the child of the world and your own mind, is within yourself; perhaps not fashioned yet, but like the world its father, as it was in the beginning, a thing confused. Do, therefore, as the statuaries do, who, by hewing off that which is superfluous, do not make but find the image. Or imitate the creation: if you will be a philosopher in good earnest, let your reason move upon the deep of your own cogitations and experience; those things that lie in confusion must be set asunder, distinguished, and every one stamped with its own name set in order; that is to say, your method must resemble that of the creation. The order of the creation was, light, distinction of day and night, the firmament, the luminaries, sensible creatures, man; and, after the creation, the commandment. Therefore the order of contemplation will be, reason, definition, space, the stars, sensible quality, man; and after man is grown up, subjection to command. In the first part of this section, which is entitled Logic, I set up the light of reason. In the second, which hath for title the Grounds of Philosophy, I distinguish the most common notions by accurate definition, for the avoiding of confusion and obscurity. The third part concerns the expansion of space, that is Geometry. The fourth contains the Motion of the Stars, together with the doctrine of sensible qualities.
In the second section, if it please God, shall be handled Man. In the third section, the doctrine of Subjection is handled already. This is the method I followed; and if it like you, you may use the same; for I do but propound, not commend to you anything of mine. But whatsoever shall be the method you will like, I would very fain commend philosophy to you, that is to say, the study of wisdom, for want of which we have all suffered much damage lately. For even they, that study wealth, do it out of love to wisdom; for their treasures serve them but for a looking-glass, wherein to behold and contemplate their own wisdom. Nor do they, that love to be employed in public business, aim at anything but place wherein to show their wisdom. Neither do voluptuous men neglect philosophy, but only because they know not how great a pleasure it is to the mind of man to be ravished in the vigorous and perpetual embraces of the most beauteous world. Lastly, though for nothing else, yet because the mind of man is no less impatient of empty time than nature is of empty place, to the end you be not forced for want of what to do, to be troublesome to men that have business, or take hurt by falling into idle company, but have somewhat of your own wherewith to fill up your time, I recommend unto you to study philosophy. Farewell.
T. H.
TITLES OF THE CHAPTERS.
| PART FIRST, | ||
| OR LOGIC. | ||
| CHAP. | PAGE. | |
| 1. | Of Philosophy | [1] |
| 2. | Of Names | [13] |
| 3. | Of Proposition | [29] |
| 4. | Of Syllogism | [44] |
| 5. | Of Erring, Falsity, and Captions | [55] |
| 6. | Of Method | [65] |
| PART SECOND, | ||
| OR THE FIRST GROUNDS OF PHILOSOPHY. | ||
| 7. | Of Place and Time | [91] |
| 8. | Of Body and Accident | [101] |
| 9. | Of Cause and Effect | [120] |
| 10. | Of Power and Act | [127] |
| 11. | Of Identity and Difference | [132] |
| 12. | Of Quantity | [138] |
| 13. | Of Analogism, or the Same Proportion | [144] |
| 14. | Of Strait and Crooked, Angle and Figure | [176] |
| PART THIRD, | ||
| OF THE PROPORTIONS OF MOTIONS AND MAGNITUDES. | ||
| 15. | Of the Nature, Properties, and divers Considerations of Motion and Endeavour | [203] |
| 16. | Of Motion Accelerated and Uniform, and of Motion by Concourse | [218] |
| 17. | Of Figures Deficient | [246] |
| 18. | Of the Equation of Strait Lines with the Crooked Lines of Parabolas, and other Figures made in imitation of Parabolas | [268] |
| 19. | Of Angles of Incidence and Reflection, equal by Supposition | [273] |
| 20. | Of the Dimension of a Circle, and the Division of Angles or Arches | [287] |
| 21. | Of Circular Motion | [317] |
| 22. | Of other Variety of Motions | [333] |
| 23. | Of the Centre of Equiponderation of Bodies pressing downwards in Strait Parallel Lines | [350] |
| 24. | Of Refraction and Reflection | [374] |
| PART FOURTH, | ||
| OF PHYSICS, OR THE PHENOMENA OF NATURE. | ||
| 25. | Of Sense and Animal Motion | [387] |
| 26. | Of the World and of the Stars | [410] |
| 27. | Of Light, Heat, and of Colours | [445] |
| 28. | Of Cold, Wind, Hard, Ice, Restitution of Bodies bent, Diaphanous, Lightning and Thunder, and of the Heads of Rivers | [466] |
| 29. | Of Sound, Odour, Savour, and Touch | [485] |
| 30. | Of Gravity | [508] |