Ocellus Lucanus: On the Nature of the Universe (1646) - Page 30

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The true philosophical method.

-thor, might most easily inspire a desire to read through this author, since I believe that by this single path philosophy can be gloriously attained; for by what reasoning shall anyone profess himself a natural philosopher who has never wished to observe the works of nature's industry? Or how will he dare to distinguish himself with the name of philosopher, who—neglecting the reason of the science whose love he openly professes, and devoted only to experiments—has most sharply refused to contemplate their causes? By the help of these alone is it permitted to approach science, since only by this path may a wise man happen to possess it.

Manil. astron. l. 1

After it has traced each thing to its own causes.

Since Ocellus testifies that he has performed both of these things—from whose doctrines the Academic and Peripatetic discoveries emanated—it will be fitting to confess him truly most worthy of the praises and imitation of philosophers; for he carries every point in philosophical matters who, not lacking the most certain protection of experiments, directs his labors toward the contemplation of causes, and with a happy bond connects the admirable works of nature through a diligent inquiry into causes.

The beginnings of philosophy.

These were the beginnings of so noble a science: while the human mind, seized by admiration of effects—because, being yet unrefined,

Manil. ibid.

Turned toward the appearance of the works, it lacked reason,

the human mind, desirous of knowing, raised itself to inquire into their causes, as the Philosopher witnesses in the Metaphysics, Book 1, Sum 1, last chapter. From this, the love of philosophy drove its roots so deep into the souls of mortals, while the secret works of nature, reviewed with diligent study, so enticed our labors that, once their causes were discovered, we were delighted no differently than by finding a most rich treasure of the mind.

Whence the hatred of the moderns toward philosophy.

Whence I do not wonder that the method observed by many, in which they have been accustomed to traverse philosophical paths by always abstracting from sensible things, has excited the hatred of the moderns; since it has forced the most pleasant gardens of flourishing science to wither so much that they drive away spectators by their dreadfulness, and which