Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy
Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy
Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy
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"The heptad is called Minerva, because similar to what is said<br />
of the goddess in fables, it is a certain virgin and unmarried;<br />
being neither begotten from a mother, which is the even number,<br />
nor by a father which is the odd number; except, that as<br />
Minerva was produced from the summit of the father of all<br />
things, so the heptad proceeds from the monad which is the<br />
head or summit of number. And it is as it were a certain virile<br />
Minerva. But the number which may be easily divided is<br />
feminine. It is also called opportunity, because its energies in<br />
decision with respect to health or disease, generation or corruption,<br />
are accomplished in a short time. And it is Fortune, because<br />
similar to what is said in fables of that goddess, it governs<br />
mortal affairs, and after a certain manner casually and opportunely<br />
occurs and decides. It is likewise denominated voice, because<br />
there are seven elementary sounds not only of the human<br />
voice, but also of every instrumental, mundane, and harmonic<br />
sound. And this not only because the first harmonic sounds<br />
are emitted, as we learn, by the seven planets, but also because<br />
the first diagram with musicians is the heptachord. But it is<br />
denominated Tritogenia, because the forms or parts of the soul<br />
being three, viz. the intellective, the irascible and the epithymetic,<br />
four most perfect virtues are produced belonging to these<br />
parts, just as of the three intervals (length, breadth and depth,)<br />
there are four boundaries in corporeal increase, (viz. a point, a<br />
line, a superficies and a solid)."<br />
With respect to the epithet Agelia, the same anonymous<br />
writer likewise informs us, "that the heptad was thus called<br />
from being collcctcd and congregated, (azo 7- ouvctXrpeac, xac<br />
W V ~ X ~ ~ C )<br />
the nature of it being uniform, since it is entirely in-<br />
dissoluble except into that which is homonymous.+ Or it is<br />
so called because all physical effects are led through it to perfection.<br />
($ azo TOU XavTa ayayevat bi WJT*JC %a qwtna a~o~u'he~a~a<br />
+ Viz. Except into a seventh part which is 1.