Sacred and Truly Christian Philosophy, or Cosmic Meteorology

On the Primary Principles of Meteors. 15
Meteors: In the 17th century, "meteorology" referred to all atmospheric phenomena, including rain, wind, lightning, and rainbows, not just "falling stars."

And this surface square will then afterwards result in its cubic body through duplication, just as will be expressed more extensively below. From this, it is clear that two lines in their simplicity refer to two primary principles, which, by the glue of the spirit or the union made by a third line, constitute the simplest geometric figure the triangle. By means of these, a progression is made immediately to the square, which is the figure of the second degree of simplicity. Thus we also have "double simples"—namely the primary ones, by whose union the triangle is procreated—and the secondary ones, which immediately succeed the primary ones and are derived from them, no differently than the square follows from the triangle. These secondary ones are called the elements, from which the mixture immediately arises, no differently than a cube is usually forged from a multitude of squares.

P A R T I.
B O O K S E C O N D.
On the material cause of Meteors.

The following section outlines the structure of Book II, showing how the "material cause" of atmospheric events is organized by chapter.

In which the material cause of meteors, or the principles of the mixtures of both worlds original: vtriusque mundi; referring to the Macrocosm (the universe) and the Microcosm (man):

• The Origin is treated in:

  • General aspects: Chapter 1.
  • Specific aspects, where:
    • The errors of ancient philosophers and the author’s own opinion are established: Chapters 2, 5, and 6.

• The Primordial Substance is dealt with, concerning which the opinions of:

  • The ancient philosophers, and
  • The author (who disagrees with them, insofar as he makes AIR their material cause),
  • Are explained: Chapters 2, 3, and 4.

C H A P T E R