410 LIFE OF DALTOX : 



it the various questions to which we have already adverted. 

 We are far from adopting Bolingbroke's phrase of the ( lofty 

 madness' of Plato, but must nevertheless admit that his 

 doctrines respecting matter are metaphysical without any 

 distinct meaning. Aristotle brought to the subject a more 

 practical understanding and a larger observation of nature, 

 yet added little to our real knowledge. His Trpcorrj v\rj, or 

 primitive matter, is contrasted with the vovs, or intelligence, 

 which brings it into form and action. He seeks, through the 

 doctrine of the four elementary properties, to explain the 

 various conditions which matter assumes ; and, misguided by 

 that notion to which the Greek philosophy ever leant of 

 opposite and neutralising qualities, he failed to perceive the 

 simpler and truer induction, that heat and cold, dryness and 

 moisture, are not conflicting elements, but different degrees 

 of the same quality or state. He compromises the question 

 as to the infinite divisibility of matter, by admitting that 

 atoms may be actually indivisible, though not potentially so ; 

 a distinction of a scholastic kind, and aiding little towards 

 the solution of the question.* 



We pass over a long period to come at once to Lucretius, 

 as the expounder in verse of the doctrine by which Epicurus 

 gave more perfect system to the atomic theory ; extending 

 and modifying the views of Democritus and others who had 

 gone before. A few lines, however, must suffice us for the 

 record of this system, which many of our readers may already 

 know in part through the great work of the Eoman poet. 

 It represents the space or void of the universe as penetrated 

 and traversed in every direction by tides or currents of ele- 

 mentary indivisible atoms infinitely minute, but possessing 

 gravity of various figure or shape, but these unchangeable 

 for each having an intrinsic power of motion, and unceas- 



* We quote the words of Aristotle, as characteristic of the style of this great 

 writer: *Ev vy vvvfXfi ZveffTifjitv awe'ipr] fyaSrj, o'AA' otfc eV eAe'x, fc\Ad $vvap.(t. 



