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harmonious variety We mean ali that dissereneo, talion collectively, Whicli cati exist belWeen individuals of the fame genus Orspecies in their accidenis and modes, While the commoti formand nature, or the essenee and iis attributes, remain the Same.
The titie, harmonious variety, is the more applicabie to thesedisseretices, inasmuch as they exist most perfectly in prior Substances. As for example; they exist in the first aura, Or inmost atmosphere; the individual paris of Which We may conceiveas noWhere equat to each Other, but most distinctly various, necording to their distance Dom the common centre of theirnetivity, Whence arises a Varioty, of Whicli the most perfeci harmony may be predicated. This however is imperceptibie to the
this description, formod to receive the forces of the most perfectnature, possesses With in it ali possibili ty of applying itself toevery inconceivable minutia of Variety, and consequently, Ofconcurring Mitti every possibie determination; so that there is nothing Whatever Within it that admits of any comparison Mithnumber, nor is there any surd or irrational, Whicli it cannot supply With iis oWΠ unit, degrest, or moment. For it is WellknOWn that every number, Whether integral or fractionat, rational or irrational, has relation to iis oWn uniis, and Domthese to iis numbers and ratios, ns homogeneous. It is Wellknown that by the more simple uniis, a number of Which either constitutes or proximately desines a given unit, v e Can approXimate to a true ratio in an irrational quantity, and we arrive thenearer to it, in proportion as the simplicity of the suid unit is more unasSignable : thUS We come very nearly to the proportion Whicli the diameter bears to the circle, and the diagonal tothe sine of a square. Consequently, is the individual paris of this aura are suscepti ble of every variety, Whilst iis essenoe and nitributes remain the fame, then there never can be any disharmony in the derivatives and compotinds, Whicli they cannotrender harmonious; and indeed in things absolutely irrationat, they ean approximate So nearly to a proportionat, that the differenee is os no account, or may be said to vanish; especiallyWhen this unassignable minimum, or least quantity, Whicli has inpotency est the uniis Whicli it is to put oti, is compared With iis
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individual part of this uir is equat to another. The paris of it Whicli occupy the higher region, are more OXpanded, ConSequently lighter, and aut less by their vis inertiae and moro bytheir vis activa. Y et they are so conjoinest With each other throughout the Whole atmosphere by contiguity, that the result
moniolas variety may be attributen to this also. It seems indeed that this substance must be ncknowledged to possess the highest degree of constancy and permanency in regard to iis essetice and attributes; und that in regard to iis other faculties, Whichin the subsequent substances are called accidenis and modes, it possesses the most perfeci harmoniOus Variety : OtherWise We
beyond a most fixed oneness. Τhis I bellove to be the mean ingos the colebraten Wolsr, When he describes substance as the subject of intrinsic, constant and variabie determinations, and asthat in Whicli dWeli the fame essentials and attributes, While modes successively Vary n. 589). By reason of the insufficiencyos terms, instead of harmoniolas variety being predicated of this Substance Or srst aura, harmony alone Seems predicabie of it, Without the addition of variety; sor although variety is not inconsistent With it, yet that term is uot adequale to express the
The view of the subject developed both here and in tholaregoing observations, Seems to have been favored by some ancient philosophers; as by Anaximenes, and Diogenes os Apollonia, Who held, that tho sirst elements of ali serm8 Were susceptibie and flexit,le. By Xenophanes of Colophon, and MeliSSUS, Who Was opposed by Aristolle,) Who held, that onething is insinite, otio finite: where ho seems to have used theterm infinite, not instead of God, Who impressed those principies on things, but instead of tho terms indefinite and unassignabie, for he does not specificatly desino What his infinite is. By Anaximander, Who held that a certain infinite principle Was
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continuatly produced another. By Ρythagoras, Who held that there is harmony and agreemens, and thus uni ty. By Archelaus, the Athenian, Who held that there is an infinite aura, Dom Whicli ait things Wore brought fortii. By Anaxagoras OfClagomene, Who held that there ure certain similar Substances, by the composition of Whicli ait things are produced, yc. Thus the idea of thom ali seems to have been similar, although note ressed in similar terms; for it is only by a StoW progress that Dames Or terma attain their peculiar bearings, and are distinctly explained. The aucients, Who lived nearer to the goiden age os trullis, seem to have been content simply to describe tho barothing itself, not to circumscribe it With any ornate investiture
606. Thus in these respecis, the animal microcosm, or litile Worid, is similar to the macrocosm, Or Worid at large; Vig., iis fluids, especialty the purest, are in the most perfeci harmoniolis
Variety; as are also the substances and auras of the mundane
system, particularly the sirsi and purest; the harmonious varietyos Whicli, in consequetice of the desecti veneSS Os langunge, Cannot possibly be expressed in adequate terms n. 650).1V. 607. By this process the corporeat system is constructed audpersected; in Whicli one thing remaius fixed in such a state os subordination to, and coordination With, another, that ali individually respect and depend upon eaeli Other; in Such a manne that the more simple substances are rendered consciolis of everychange Whicli talies place in the compotand series and sub-Stances ; and Whateuer is determinod into aut, is essected by
the more simple, ei ther determining, Or Concurring, Or eonSent-ing. Moreover this is accomptished according to natural orde proceeding Dom an inferior Substance to One proximately Superior, Or DOm a Superior to One proximately inferior; but nothom the supreme to the ultimate excepi by intermediates. 608. By this procera the corporeat system is constructed and perfected; in which one thino remains 'ed in such a state of8ubordination to, and coordination with, another, that ali indi-C 2
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vidually respect and depend Uon eaoh other. Τhis lin prevatis universalty and perpetuntly in the animal body; as also, in the vegetable and minerat Lingdoms, und in the World at large, asthe complex os all. The sirsi substance of every kingdom, Species, and subjeci, is What gives being esseJ to the rest; itis that, also, by Whicli, and for the sine of Whicli, the resthave existence, so that there is nothing in the whole series Whicli has not respuet to it, both as the beginning and end of the Whole, and as that under Whicli eve thing else exisis in a state of subordination. Thus, there is nothing but What is an intermediate to some further use and eud, in Such a Way, that, being placed belWeen the things Whicli precedo and those Whicli followit, it both contatus the relation of the things Whicli folioW it, and is itself in relation to those Whicli precede it, on Whicli it depends, and for the salie of Whicli it exisis in that and in no Other manner n. 252). See also n. 248-253, 257-298. Thus in every series there is established a Lind of circle, in virtve of Whichthe first thing can havo reseretice to the last, and the last to thesrst. Thus in the humati hody it is the foui to which ali things in the body refer as thoir firsi substance, by Whicli, and for the
Sahe of Whicli, they exist. The purposes, State, and happiness, Osthe Solii, there re, are the objects Whicli est these regard : and to the intent that iis purposes may be carried On, there muSt be Something Whicli has precedetice, or Whicli is prior and Superior, by Whicli, and sor the salie of Whicli, the foui exists. Thus nothing terminates in the finite universe, but ali things universalty in the first Ens of created things, in respect tO Whomthere is nothing in the whole compass os nature and of the mundane System, Whicli is not a medium or intermediate, Hebeing, preeminently, the Beginning and the End; for Whichreason also nil things floW, in a most WOnderfui manner, Domnia end, through ends, to an ond n. 296-298). Thus it is that even the universe itself is distinguishod into iis series n. 584586 . And thus in every series there is a similar chain Of Sub- ordination, order, and form of rute, so that each, Whil Si accomptishing, individually, iis oWn purpose, is accompliShing, QSO,
the common and lienee the universat purpOse Os ali.'
or, so that each While acting in iis capacisy of an individual cause, acts also in that os a common, and lience in that os a universat cause.''- Tro
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609. In such a manner, that the more Simple sub8lances arerendered conscious of every change which takes place in the com- pound series and substances. This follows as a consequence Domthe connection established bet Neen them, Whicli is the more perfeci, in proportion as the more simple substances are distinctDOm the more compota d, both in the bratus and in tho body Π. 602); and in proportion as the substances of the fame degrectare distinet Dom their associales, their essetice and attributes remain the fame n. 603, 604). To the intent that these effecismay be Secured, organs are provided, Which may have a senseos ali changes that take place out of the series, and of Hl thingsthat are in contact With it. The tunic or membrane Whichis the clothing of the whole, is sensibie of the more generalimpressions arising DOm the touch, appulse, and impaci Os eX- ternal objecis. The longue is sensibie of the sortiis of disserently shaped bodies, and especialty of those Whicli are someWhatrough, or hard, and 1loating in aqueous fluids : the nostriis aresensibie of similar puror bouies 1loating in tho aeriai fluid : theear is sensibio of the modulation of the atmospheric fluid; and the eye, of the modifications of the ethereat suid; thus thereis nothing in the oarth Which does not produce and induce Somechange With regard to some organ Of sense. But in regard tochanges of a higher order, Such as those, sor instauce, Whichoecur in the stili more perfeci auras, and whicli an sWer to the modification Of the inferior auras, there are uiso more eminent Organs Mith in the series, Which have a sense even of these, butin a more perseet manner according as the harmony established
mined to a more orderly arra gement by their more simple Sub Stances. Bul in What manner the more simple substances and Series are rendered conscious Of What happens in Such as are compound, can be known Only hom their connection, some idenof Whicli is suggested in this Ρari, as in n. 216, 2I7, 234, 268, 287, 505, 557, 561, 574-576; also in the sequet, Π. 641647; and as respecis the cerebellum, in n. 558-561, inclusive, Where it is sileWn that this organ is rendered conscious of the generat changes existiug in the body: but as those changes do
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not come into the distinet perception of the cerebrum, they axe generalty supposed nos to reaeli Us. 610. And whalene1 is determined into aet, is essected by the
What the substances aro, Which give determination to the things existing in their series, may bo seen in n. 597; and inasmuchas they are distinci hom pacti other n. 602 , determination maybe predicated of each. When, there re, the determination
mined into aut: consequently to the Deedom of the will, it is of no importance What has ingress, but What has egreSS, Or notWhat excites, but What is determined. The Deedom of the Superior faculties of the fame series there re is the le88, in proportion as they are the more draWn to that fide of the questionio Whicli tho inferior faculties are impellen; and , On the other haud, the Deedom of the superior faculties is the greater in proportiori as they are able to descend to that fide of the questionos their oWn accord; especialty in proportion as they are more Strongly inducen to descend. In the meantime, Wheri determination tines placo, tho inferior faculties can no longer besaid to determine or aci, but to bo determinest aud acted uson; because they are under the superior, and are bound to comply, in order that What is determinod may come into eXiStence. Forthe existence Oi an action is oWing to the principat cause; but
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as to the quality of the action, We may observe, that thOSe, Ormany of thoso things Whicli are in the action, are either oWingto the principat cause providing that suci, accessories Ahali attendit; or to Some mediate or proximate cause doing the Same, an dhence to the principia cause Whicli admits them into the action; or sinalty it is oWing to a stili higher cause, Whicli providedihem Do m a stili earlier origin. Thus au action is endoWed With qualities according as it derives them either from a more principat and hetice a more perfeci cause, Or elSe Dom Other CRUSOS. NoW, So far as there is liberty os acting, so sar also is there theliberty of suffering one's self to be acted upon by What is Superior. And since, as ulready observed, liberty is predicabie of the Wili, theresore When causes arising DOm the WOrid, or thebody, cari be referred as exciting causes to the Will of the superior faculties or forces, and these concur Or conSent, that iS, COH- descend to them, it hetice sollows, that there is a liberty of sodisposing one's self as to be in a state of suffering one's self tobe acted upon; to form Whicli state, things superior alSO Concur, Whicli provido sor tho accession of those things Whicli qualisy, orgive the quality, as Was Sald ab ove. There is there re a libertyos acting, relatively to things inferior; a liberty of sufferingone's self to be acted upon, relatively to things superior; Domboth Whicli rosulis a liberty of disposing onu's sulf to be acted
611. Moreover this is accomptished accordi ny to natural order, proceeding Dom an inferior Sub8lance to One proximately Si perior, Or from a superior to one prooeimately inferior; but not fromthe supreme to the ultimate eaecept by intermediates. On this account subordination is distinguished into degrees, that allthings may soW in due Order. For a fibre cannot aut exceptupon iis oWn motive fibre, Whicli is iis mediat ing and sub determining Substance; nor can this Ialter aut upon the fleshy movingsibre, excepi by an intermediate n. 503-505, 510, 532, 557 .
The fame laW prevails With ali Other substances, Whether existingin an animal su. 571-578 , vegetabie, Or minerat; for it is contrary to the nature of things, that a remote cause Should ben proximate One, and that One prior in ordor should bo the immediate cause of the one Whicli is ultimate, or of the essect n. 270). Τhus the fame laW prevatis, Whether an inferior CRUSe
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Ret upon a Superior, Or a Superior On an insertor, RS in the cases
612. Simple substances, and those Whicli are less and more compOUnd, Whicli are the determining substances of the things in their OWn series, are, necOrding to their degrees of simplicityor Os composition, prior and posterior; superior and inferior;
are more perfeci than those Whicli are posterior. Τhe prior also can exist Without the posterior, but not the posterior without the prior. 613. Simple substanees, and those which are leu and more compotin which are the determinino substances of the thinys in their own series, are, accordiu to their defrees of simplicity or of composition, prior and posterior; superior and inferior; interior
stances I mean the first os every series, in respect of Whicli those Whicli solioW ure compound ; Such for instance is the spiritu ussuid in tho animal kingdom, after Whicli sollows in Order theblood of each kind; nexi, the medullary Or nervolas fibrii, Whichis only a most Simple artery; then, the motive nervous fibro in the muscies; and so on n. II 5.) Τhe Si Stances, theresore, Whicli are more Simple, are also prior, both in Order and time :they are superior in Order With respect to degree, for the first
nalty, in proportion as She approaches nearer to her simple substance, in regard lo Whicli, ali the rest, Whicli are compoHild, are posterior, inferior, and exterior. Α simple substance may thus be considered a cauSe, Since a prior, Superior, and
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interior substance continuatly Operates RS a cause to One Whichis posterior, inferior, and exterior. Henee nrise the expressionesos, a priori and a posteriori; of ascending, descending, and transcending in series; of numbers being raised to higherpoWers, and of nature retiring into herself, Mitch she does When returning to prior causes, and more inWardly stili, When returning to their sirst principie.
614. Those which are prior are also more univer8al. Thus the sirsi substance of the mundane system is the most universalos substances, because the only one in compound Substanees.
In like manuer, the spirituous fluid is the most universalsubstance in the animal series, beenuse it is the ali in every pari, and the only substance in the series that lives, or byWhicli the rest live. The medullary or nervous si bre is the Oneonly determinen substance in the fame Lingdom, Whetice it is the most universal; and the nervous motive fibre is the one Onlydeterminod substance in the muscle, hecause it rules universallyin that Lingdom. So likeWise in ali Other cases. For Recordingio Aristolle, that is a universat Whicli is predicated of many things, and whicli naturalty is in many things; for, res he says,
the common essenee or nature, Whicli Others catl the universalprincipie in many things, is alWays preserved even during the perpetuat an d continuod succession os individuals. Wheresere the philosophy of universals is that Whicli contains the principies and elements of the things Whicli follow Dom them. Buta universat has respeet not Only to substances as giving determination, but also to series as receiving determination DOm them: hence it is usual to arrange things into genera, RS alSO geΠera into Species, and indoed into genera superior and inferior, thedeterminations Os Which, as being generat, enter into the Species, and tuto their particulars or individuals. There re, since thereare degrees of universality, and there is nothing in the wholesystem os the World Whicli has not respect to something more universat, a species is Sometimes tulien lar a genuS, Etther Superior Or inferior, according to iis relation to the things Which
6I5. And in evem qualitv are more perfeci than those which
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Rre posterior vieWed in themselves and their nature n. 176). They are more perfect for instance, in regard to form, CSSenco, attributes, accidenis, and qualities; consequently they are more diStinet, Similar, unanimous, constant, and fluid; they are in the fuller enjoyment of ali their virtve or force, just as active Sub Stances are in tho fuller enjoyment of their elastic force; theyare HSo more beautiful, and more disposed to agreement: hencealso it follows, that they are Iess limited, more Dee, in greater Ρ0teney, more SenSible, more rational, more durable n. 100-
mining Substances Would occasion the greatest in the substances determined; since error Would increase according to descent in
616. Order also liseis exisis in greater Or less degrees of perfection: but the perfection of the Order soWs Dom the perfection os the sirsi substance or first determining principiein every Series; for the very determining principie itself is a Series, beenuse in the series of the universe n. 586 . Wherofore the Order of the Whole series depends oti the order of the sirst substance, as being in iiself and in iis oWn nature the more perfeci. Τhe greatest persection of any entire determined series, is, Wheu it corresponds to the persection of the determining series: yet the highest perfection cannot on this account bepredicated of it, uniess the persection of iis first determining series, Dom Whicli a like determination floWs, corresponds fotho perfection of the sirst series in the mundane system. Butthat the order of derivatives may correspond to the persectionos primitives, We must suppose that ali those things Whicli areto enter into the derivation os things posterior, accede to is, ei ther by express provision or contingently: they accede to it by express provision in the natural formation Os every Series, Πay, eVen in What is thetice formed, in order to iis perpetuat existence, that is, to iis subsisteuce. Wheres ore the series Ofthe contingenis are simultane usty included in the determinationos the sirsi substance of every series, Which so arrangeS themus to cause them to accede' n. 263-265, c.). Is they accede contingent , they are provided either by some Other Superior