Cleomedes' Circular Theory

...can resist. Therefore, if the essence of anything is assumed to be dilated and diffused, certainly that which is always occupied by it in that diffusion will be filled by the occupant: and a place will be created; which indeed is a void occupied and filled by a body. This, therefore, after the essence is contracted and brought into a smaller volume, will again become a void. Just as, therefore, there is a body which might be received, so there is something which can receive a body. And this, which can be both filled and abandoned by a body, is the void. It is therefore necessary for the void to exist in some manner. Its concept is indeed the simplest of all: for it lacks a body, and it flees from touch, and it neither has any shape nor receives one, nor does it suffer anything, nor does it effect anything, but it can only receive a body. Since the void is of such a nature, it is clear from those things which appear that it does not exist at all within the world. For if the essence of all things were not entirely connected by a certain affinity, the world could neither be held together nor governed by nature, nor would there be any consensus of its parts among themselves. And if the world were not contained in one place, and if one spiritus spirit/vital force were not cohering through the whole by affinity, we would see or hear nothing. For the functions of the senses would be hindered by the intervening vacuities. Vessels also of narrow mouth, when inverted in waters...

[The essence] could stand in the way. So the essence, while flowing, will take hold of something. And that which is taken hold of by it at any time during the flow will be filled by the taker, and a place will be generated, which is a void held by a body and filled. This, therefore, when the essence is again contracted and gathered into a smaller volume, will become a void. Just as, therefore, there is the body that has received, so there is that which is able to receive a body. And this, which is able to be both filled and left behind by a body, is the void. It is necessary, therefore, for there to be some foundation of the void. Its conception is simplest, being incorporeal and intangible, and neither having a shape nor being shaped. Neither suffering anything nor doing anything, it is simply able to receive a body. Since the void exists as such, it does not exist at all in the world. This is clear from the phenomena. For if the essence of all things were not entirely naturally connected, it would not be possible for the world to be held together and governed by nature, nor would there be any sympathy of its parts toward one another. And if the world were not held by a single place, and the pneuma spirit/breath were not entirely connected by nature, it would not be possible for us to see or hear. For as there would be vacuities in between, our senses would be hindered by them. But narrow-mouthed vessels...