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Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

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"Hence it is the first number of which the word all is enunciated.<br />

For we do not enunciate the all of the numbers less than<br />

three, but we say one, and both. By this number also we make<br />

compacts, manifesting by this that we request every good. We<br />

likewise call those that are in every respect miserable, thricewretched,<br />

and those that are in every respect blessed, thriceblessed.<br />

The first origin also of a superficies is from this number.<br />

For the first subsistence of it is in a triangle; and on this<br />

account there are three genera of a triangle, viz. the equilateral,<br />

the isosceles, and the scalene. There are likewise three<br />

species of angles, the right, the acute, and the obtuse. And the<br />

right angle indeed is defined by the nature of unity, and consists<br />

of the equal and the similar. Hence all right angles are<br />

equal to each other, being media between the acute and obtuse,<br />

the surpassing and the surpassed. But the other angles are in£ i-<br />

nite and indefinite; for they consist from excess and defect. The<br />

triad also from the composition of the monad and duad with<br />

itself produces 6, which is the first perfect number, being equal<br />

to its parts. And this perfect number when added to the first<br />

square, which is 4, produces the decad."<br />

According to the Pythagoreans likewise, as we have before<br />

observed,* every transmission of divine and mortal concerns is<br />

accomplished through emission and reception, and in the third<br />

place is strengthened through restoration. Thus after a certain<br />

manner the etherial bodies disseminate; but terrestrial natures<br />

receive as it were (the etherial effluxions); and a restoration?<br />

is effected through the intermediate natures.<br />

See chap. 5.<br />

Bullialdus, from whom this information is derived, and who obtained it<br />

from the anonymous authar of Theologum. Arithmet. is very much mistaken in<br />

the meaning of the word av7aao8ogr~ rertoration, in this place. For he says,<br />

"per QIV~~~OBOQIV intelligere oportet effectus prductos a causis." Sa far however<br />

is this word from signifying in this passage effects produced by causes, that<br />

it signifies the restoration of parts to the whdes from which they were derived.

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