The First Principles of Natural Things

parts. This motion, because it is the most mechanical, is also the most natural; it is that in which, as is well known, the whole power of nature and all mechanical force is inherent. If it is granted that motion is the cause of all things, then no other motion can be admitted in this case than that which is the most mechanical and geometrical. This is because a spiral—from its center to its edges in space—is one perpetual entity original: "ens"—a philosophical term for a being or thing that exists., circular in all its dimensions. As such, it cannot possess anything within itself except what is most perfect, mechanical, and natural in its motion; it is perfectly geometrical in both the arrangement of its parts and its movement.

In a Simple The non-extended, mathematical point that serves as the origin of all things., however, where there can be no physical substance to be put in motion, nor any medium in which motion can exist, we must conceive that instead of a mechanical and geometrical motion (such as exists between parts in a medium), there is a total or pure motion. That is to say, there is a state and an inner effort original: "conatus"—the inclination or tendency of a body toward motion. arising from a "like-into-like" as-it-were original: "quasi" motion. In this state is hidden the one and only cause and primitive force that produced all the entities that came to exist afterward.

Inasmuch as the visible world is of such a diverse appearance in all its kingdoms, and consists and exists in a series of parts arising successively and simultaneously, it cannot possibly end at the same point where it began. Thus, it cannot possibly end in its own first or middle series, or in its first or second part. If this were the case, no series would exist, nor would there be any results; because there would be no distinctions into intermediate stages. Consequently, there would be no element to form vortices In early physics, "vortices" were whirlpool-like motions in the ether thought to move the planets.; nothing to form ether or air; nothing to form fire; much less anything to form the innumerable parts of the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms. In a word, there would be no world.

Hence, my first aim has been to demonstrate that the first Finite The first discrete, limited substance produced from the "Simple." derives its origin from the Simple; the second Finite from the first Finite; the third from the second; and the fourth from the third. Each of these is accompanied by a cause similar to that which exists in the primitive Simple, and which passes, by successive derivation, into the Finites. Thus, I show that a series of finites springs from...