48 THE GREEK SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY. 



is continuous is more properly said to take place 

 constantly, than what is successive. Also the con- 

 tinuous is better ; but we always suppose that which 

 is better to take place in nature, if it be possible. 

 The motion of the First Mover will, therefore, be 

 continuous, if such an eternal motion be possible." 

 We here see the vague judgment of better and worse 

 introduced, as that of natural and unnatural was 

 before, into physical reasonings. 



I proceed with Aristotle's argument 9 . "We 

 have now, therefore, to show that there may be an 

 infinite, single, continuous motion, and that this is 

 circular." This is, in fact, proved, as may readily 

 be conceived, from the consideration that a body 

 may go on perpetually revolving uniformly in a 

 circle. And thus we have a demonstration, on the 

 principles of this philosophy, that there is and must 

 be a First Mover, revolving eternally with a uni- 

 form circular motion. 



Though this kind of philosophy may appear too 

 trifling to deserve being dwelt upon, it is important 

 for our purpose so far as to exemplify it, that we 

 may afterwards advance, confident that we have 

 done it no injustice. 



I will now pass from the doctrines relating to 

 the motions of the heavens, to those which concern 

 the material elements of the universe. And here it 

 may be remarked that the tendency (of which we 

 are here tracing the developement) to extract specu- 



9 viii. 8. 



