General Cosmology

...[the] things. From this, a remarkable utility flows into PhysicsIn Wolff's time, "Physics" referred to the broad study of nature, often called "Natural Philosophy.". For the various hypotheses of physicists testify that science has been greatly hindered because fictitious elements were assumed, through which little progress was made. For although the world is immediately composed of composite beings, nevertheless, in the breaking down of the composite, since one must eventually arrive at simple things (§. 686. Ontology), one must by no means stop at composites when you wish to reach the first origin of things. This is true even if you can rest content with composites when explaining phenomena perceptible to the senses, and thus have no great need in Physics to derive their explanations from simple things, from which the things that fall under our senses are far distant. Thus, for this reason also, the necessity of general Cosmology shines forth; for in this science must be handed down those things which can be excluded from Physics, yet are useful for driving out false hypotheses from that same science.

§. 8.

In general Cosmology, the general principles of the modification of material things must be explained. For since Cosmology regards the world as a modifiable being (§. 1.); in this science, it must certainly be taught from where the reasons for the modification of material things are to be taken. Therefore, the general principles of the modification of material things must be presented here (§. 866. Ontology).

This is the reason why we treat the laws of motion, since all modifications of material things occur by means of motion. If we now weigh those things which were presented in First PhilosophyWolff uses "First Philosophy" as a synonym for Metaphysics or Ontology. regarding the theory of being both in general and of the composite in particular—which are to be applied to the world in general (§. 2.); concerning the manner in which composites emerge from simples (§. 7.); and regarding the explanation of the general principles of the modification of material things (§. 8.)—what ought to be taught in Cosmology is abundantly understood. Furthermore, from the present proposition, the use of general Cosmology is made known in natural philosophy as well as in Mechanics. In Mechanics, the rules of motion are demonstrated, but the principles of those things which go by the name of "laws of motion" are merely assumed; they are accepted because they result in rules that agree with experiments. By this very fact, the necessity of general Cosmology shines forth, because the laws of motion can have their foundation nowhere else but in this very science.

§. 9.

Whoever would understand general Cosmology and be convinced of the truth proposed in it What sort of study of Ontology one ought to experience ought to make the principles of Ontology