Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy
Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy
Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy
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whole body, which extends to four times seven years. The<br />
man continues as far as to fifty years wanting one, i.e. to seven<br />
times seven years; but the elderly man as far as to fifty-six<br />
years, i.e. to seven times eight years. And all the years that<br />
follow this pertain to the old man."<br />
It is also said with respect to the peculiar composition of the<br />
hebdomad, as having an admirable order in its nature, since it<br />
consists of three and four, that the third number from the monad<br />
in a duple ratio is a square, but the fourth number in the<br />
same ratio is a cube, and that the seventh is a cube and at the<br />
same time a square.* Hence the seventh number is truly perfective,<br />
announcing both equalities, the superficial through a<br />
square, according to an alliance with the triad, and the solid<br />
through a cube, according to an alliance with the tetrad. But<br />
the hebdomad consists of the triad and the tetrad. The hebdomad<br />
however is not only perfective, but, as I may say, is most<br />
harmonic, and after a certain manner is the fountain of the<br />
most beautiful diagram which comprehends all harmonies, i.e.<br />
the diatessaron, the diapente, and the diapason; and likewise<br />
all analogies, viz. the arithmetical, the geometrical, and besides<br />
these, the harmonic. But the plinthion? consists of the numbers<br />
6, 8, 9, and 12. And 8 is indeed to 6 in a sesquitertian<br />
ratio, according to which the harmony diatessaron subsists.<br />
But 9 is to 6 in a sesquialter ratio, according to which the harmony<br />
diapente subsists. And 12 is to 6 in a duple ratio, which<br />
forms the harmony diapason. It contains likewise, as I have<br />
said, all analogies; the arithmetical indeed, in the numbers 6,<br />
9, and 12; for as the middle number surpasses the first by 3,<br />
* Thus in the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, which are in a duple ratio, 4 is<br />
a square, 8 is a cube, and 64 is both a square and a cube. Thus also in the numbers<br />
1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729, which are in a triple ratio, 9 is a square, 27 a<br />
cube, and 729 is both a square and a cube. And this will also be the case with<br />
numbers in a quadruple, quintuple, kc. ratio.<br />
f- See chap. 32, of the 2nd book.