60 THE GREEK SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY. 



ascribe the inequality of the Nile at different seasons to the influence 

 of the sun upon its springs alone, the other cause of change, the rains? 

 being here excluded ; and that, on this supposition, the same relative 

 effects would be produced whether the sun increase the sources in 

 winter by melting the snows, or diminish them in summer by what 

 he calls drawing them upwards. 



This specimen of the early efforts of the Greeks in physical specula- 

 tions, appears to me to speak strongly for the opinion that their 

 philosophy on such subjects was the native growth of the Greek mind, 

 and owed nothing to the supposed lore of Egypt and the East ; an 

 opinion which has been adopted with regard to the Greek Philosophy 

 in general by the most competent judges on a full survey of the evi- 

 dence. 5 Indeed, we have no evidence whatever that, at any period, 

 the African or Asiatic nations (with the exception perhaps of the 

 Indians) ever felt this importunate curiosity with regard to the definite 

 application of the idea of cause and effect to visible phenomena ; or 

 drew so strong a line between a fabulous legend and a reason rendered ; 

 or attempted to ascend to a natural cause by classing together phe- 

 nomena of the same kind. We may be well excused, therefore, for 

 believing that they could not impart to the Greeks what they them- 

 selves did not possess ; and so far as our survey goes, physical philos- 

 ophy has its origin, apparently spontaneous and independent, in the 

 active and acute intellect of Greece. 



Sect. 2. Primitive Mistake in Greek Physical Philosophy. 



WE now proceed to examine with what success the Greeks followed 

 the track into which they had thus struck. And here we are obliged 

 to confess that they very soon turned aside from the right road to 

 truth, and deviated into a vast field of error, in which they and their 

 successors have wandered almost to the present time. It is not neces- 

 sary here to inquire why those faculties which appear to be bestowed 

 upon us for the discovery of truth, were permitted by Providence to 

 fail so signally in answering that purpose ; whether, like the powers 

 by which we seek our happiness, they involve a responsibility on our 

 part, and may be defeated by rejecting the guidance of a higher 

 faculty ; or whether these endowments, though they did not immedi- 



* Thirlwall, Hist. <?/., ii. 130 ; and, as there quoted, Ritter, Gescliichte der Philos- 

 ip/iie, i. 159-173. 



