298 PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



plation of the Spiritual Relations of number and 

 figure, and Philosophy became Theosophy. 



The examination of this feature in the history 

 of the human mind is important for us, in conse- 

 quence of its influence upon the employments and 

 the thoughts of the times now under our notice. 

 This tendency materially affected both men's spe- 

 culations and their labours in the pursuit of know- 

 ledge. By its direct operation, it gave rise to the 

 newer Platonic philosophy among the Greeks, and 

 to corresponding doctrines among the Arabians; 

 and by calling into a prominent place astrology, 

 alchemy, and magic, it long occupied most of the 

 real observers of the material world. In this man- 

 ner it delayed and impeded the progress of true 

 science ; for we shall see reason to believe that 

 human knowledge lost more by the perversion of 

 men's minds and the misdirection of their efforts, 

 than it gained by any increase of zeal arising from 

 the peculiar hopes and objects of the mystics. 



It is not to our purpose to attempt any general 

 view of the progress and fortunes of the various 

 forms of Mystical Philosophy ; but only to exhibit 

 some of its characters, in so far as they illustrate 

 those tendencies of thought which accompanied 

 the retrogradation of inductive science. And of 

 these, the leading feature which demands our notice 

 is that already alluded to ; namely, the practice of 

 referring things and events, not to clear and dis- 

 tinct relations, obviously applicable to such cases ; 



