Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	wit_n	word_n	write_n	17	3	8.4835	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43987	Elements of philosophy the first section, concerning body / written in Latine by Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury ; and now translated into English ; to which are added Six lessons to the professors of mathematicks of the Institution of Sr. Henry Savile, in the University of Oxford.; De corpore. English	Hobbes, Thomas, 1588-1679.	1656 (1656)	Wing H2232; ESTC R22309	317,285	430

neer enough to any Body we perceive the Motion and Going of the same we distinguish it thereby from a Tree a Column and other fixed Bodies and so that motion or going is the Property thereof as being proper to living creatures and a faculty by which they make us distinguish them from other Bodies 5 How the knowledge of any Effect may be gotten from the knowledge of the Generation thereof may easily be understood by the example of a Circle For if there be set before us a plain figure having as neer as may be the figure of a Circle we cannot possibly perceive by sense whether it be a true Circle or no then which neverthelesse nothing is more easie to be known to him that knowes first the Generation of the propounded figure For let it be known that the figure was made by the circumduction of a Body whereof one end remained unmoved and we may reason thus a Body carried about retaining alwayes the same length applies it selfe first to one Radius then to another to a third a fourth and successively to all and therefore the same length from the same point toucheth the circumference in every part thereof which is as much to say as all the Radii are equal We know therefore that from such generation proceeds a figure from whose one middle point all the extreame points are reached unto by equal Radii And in like manner by knowing first what figure is set before us we may come by Ratiocination to some Generation of the same though perhaps not that by which it was made yet that by w ch it might have been made for he that knows that a Circle has the property above declared will easily know whether a Body carried about as is said will generate a Circle or no. 6 The End or Scope of Philosophy is that we may make use to our benefit of effects formerly seen or that by applicatiō of Bodies to one another we may produce the like effects of those we conceive in our minde as far forth as matter strength industry will permit for the commodity of humane life For he inward glory and triumph of mind that a man may have for the mastering of some difficult and doutfull matter or for the discovery of some hidden truth is not worth so much paines as the study of Philosophy requires nor need any man care much to teach another what he knowes himselfe if he think that will be the onely benefit of his labour The end of Knowledge is Power and the use of Theoremes which among Geometricians serve for the finding out of Properties is for the construction of Problemes and lastly the scope of all speculation is the performing of some action or thing to be done 7 But what the Utility of Philosophy is especially of Natural Philosophy and Geometry will be best understood by reckoning up the chief commodities of which mankind is capable and by comparing the manner of life of such as enjoy them with that of others which want the same Now the greatest commodities of mankind are the Arts namely of measuring Matter and Motion of moving ponderous Bodies of Architecture of Navigation of making instruments for all uses of calculating the Coelestiall Motions the Aspects of the Stars and the parts of Time of Geography c. By which Sciences how great benefits men receive is more easily understood then expressed These benefits are enjoyed by almost all the people of Europe by most of those of Asia and by some of Africa but the Americans and they that live neer the Poles do totally want them But why Have they sharper wits then these Have not all men one kinde of soule and the same faculties of mind What then makes this difference except Philosophy Philosophy therefore is the cause of all these benefits But the Utility of Morall and Civil Philosophy is to be estimated not so much by the commodities we have by knowing these Sciences as by the calamities we receive from not knowing them Now all such calamities as may be avoided by humane industry arise from warre but chiefly from Civil warre for from this proceed Slaughter Solitude and the want of all things But the cause of warre is not that men are willing to have it for the Will has nothing for Object but Good at least that which seemeth good Nor is it from this that men know not that the effects of war are evil for who is there that thinks not poverty and losse of life to be great evils The cause therefore of Civill warre is that men know not the causes neither of Warre nor Peace there being but few in the world that have learned those duties which unite and keep men in peace that is to say that have learned the rules of civill life sufficiently Now the knowledge of these rules is Morall Philosophy But why have they not learned them unlesse for this reason that none hitherto have taught them in a clear and exact method For what shall we say Could the ancient Masters of Greece Egypt Rome and others perswade the unskillfull multitude to their innumerable opinions concerning the nature of their Gods which they themselves knew not whether they were true or false and which were indeed manifestly false absurd could they not perswade the same multitude to civill duty if they themselves had understood it Or shall those few writings of Geometricians which are extant be thought sufficient for the taking away of all controversy in the matters they treat of and shall those innumerable and huge Volumes of Ethicks be thought unsufficient if what they teach had been certain and well demonstrated What then can be imagined to be the cause that the writings of those men have increased science and the writings of these have increased nothing but words saving that the former were written by men that knew and the later by such as knew not the doctrine they taught onely for ostentation of their wit and eloquence Neverthelesse I deny not but the reading of some such books is very delightfull for they are most eloquently written and containe many cleer wholsome and choice sentences which yet are not universally true though by them universally pronounced From whence it comes to passe that the circumstances of times places and persons being changed they are no lesse frequently made use of to confirme wicked men in their purposes then to make them understand the precepts of Civill duties Now that which is chiefly wanting in them is a true and certaine rule of our actions by which we might know whether that we undertake be just or unjust For it is to no purpose to be bidden in every thing to do Right before there be a certain Rule and measure of Right established which no man hitherto hath established Seeing therefore from the not knowing of Civill duties that is from the want of Morall science proceed Civill warres and the greatest calamities of mankind we may very well attribute to