fa* 



100 ONTOLOGY. 



properties of the latter as well as from those of the air 

 and fire, and to become stiff and solid, the remaining 

 elements exert an incessant influence upon it, and draw 

 a portion of it into their circle, i. e. they confer upon it 

 their properties. 



a. The Earth-element can be changed by fire Fire-minerals. 



b. Or changed by air - - - Air-minerals. 



c. Or changed by water Water-minerals. 



d. Or lastly, it is severed wholly and substan- 1 E art h-minerals. 



tiaily tree ----- j 



497. Through the influx of fire upon the formation of 

 the Earthy it becomes an identical, homogeneous mass, in 

 which the possibility resides, as in the aether itself, of 

 undergoing all changes. This developmental stage of the 

 earth-element is represented by the metal. The homo- 

 geneous mass of the metal can become earthy by 

 oxydation, aqueous or saline by acidification, aerial or 

 combustible by being hydrogenized. 



498. The metal is unanalysable, as is the aether, 

 although it consists of three forms. The metal is easily 

 restored or brought back from its combinations. 



499. Besides, however, the identical, homogeneous or 

 simple character, the metal has still also the three cha- 

 racters of fire or of the aether. It is therefore a triplicity 

 in identity. 



a. In so far as gravity is represented in it, it has the 

 identical or homogeneous mass already indicated, and 

 is heavier than all other bodies. It is central mass. It 

 must be regarded as pure carbon. Metal and the body 

 of gravity are one. 



b. In so far as light is represented in it, it has 

 the peculiar lustre, which stands again also in inti- 

 mate connexion with the homogeneous mass. The 

 usual colour of metals is white, the colour of unsullied 

 light. The lustre is properly a self-illumination, and 

 thereupon depends their repulsion of light, or opacity. 

 Metals are therefore adiaphanous or opaque, because they 

 are non-decomposible by light. As soon as they become 

 decomposible, namely oxydes, they become also trans- 



