ARISTOTLE. 479 



universe in. a state of perpetual motion. (De 

 Anima, lib. i. c. 2.) 



But in his Metaphysics, he maintains that the 

 First Mover is incorporeal, immutable, immov- 

 able, and independent of the material universe. 

 In what way this immaterial First Mover, itself 

 incapable of motion, communicates motion to 

 other bodies, he never clearly explained ; but 

 supposed that it acted on the first celestial sphere, 

 in a mode similar to that in which the mind 

 acts on the body. (Lib. xi. c. 0, 7, 8, as cited 

 by Enfield.) 



As for the rest, he maintained with Plato, that 

 the earth is the centre of motion to the planetary 

 spheres, the velocities of which are inversely as 



amount of happiness to the greatest number of animated beings. 

 Even the passions of the human mind are as necessary to happi- 

 ness as reason itself; nor is it possible that pleasure could exist 

 without sensibility, or the susceptibility of pain. Let us then 

 confess, that by far the most fruitful source of physical and 

 moral evil is our ignorance of the innumerable springs of happi- 

 ness that a more perfect knowledge of nature would unfold. The 

 truth is, that the choicest blessings of life become evils when 

 misapplied. The cherishing power of heat, without which nothing 

 could exist, becomes a consuming fire in excess ; and so of our 

 food and drink, exercise, repose, and every thing else. The 

 beautiful light of the sun, the physical source of all good, excites 

 inflammation of the eyes, if ignorantly gazed at too long. Nor 

 is it unworthy of notice that misfortune and sorrow have been far 

 more frequently instruments of good than prosperity, by leading 

 thoughtful minds to investigate the causes of human suffering, 

 and the best modes of preventing it. 



