登陆注册
5346600000245

第245章 THE SIXTH ENNEAD(37)

Thus, Motion is conditioned, not only by the objects in which it occurs, but also by its origins and its course, and it is a distinctive mark of Motion to be always qualified and to take its quality from the moved.

24.With regard to locomotion: if ascending is to be held contrary to descending, and circular motion different [in kind] from motion in a straight line, we may ask how this difference is to be defined-the difference, for example, between throwing over the head and under the feet.

The driving power is one- though indeed it might be maintained that the upward drive is different from the downward, and the downward passage of a different character from the upward, especially if it be a natural motion, in which case the up-motion constitutes lightness, the down-motion heaviness.

But in all these motions alike there is the common tendency to seek an appointed place, and in this tendency we seem to have the differentia which separates locomotion from the other species.

As for motion in a circle and motion in a straight line, if the former is in practice indistinguishable from the latter, how can we regard them as different? The only difference lies in the shape of the course, unless the view be taken that circular motion is "impure,"as not being entirely a motion, not involving a complete surrender of identity.

However, it appears in general that locomotion is a definite unity, taking its differences from externals.

25.The nature of integration and disintegrations calls for scrutiny.Are they different from the motions above mentioned, from coming-to-be and passing-away, from growth and decay, from change of place and from alteration? or must they be referred to these? or, again, must some of these be regarded as types of integration and disintegration?

If integration implies that one element proceeds towards another, implies in short an approach, and disintegration, on the other hand, a retreat into the background, such motions may be termed local; we have clearly a case of two things moving in the direction of unity, or else making away from each other.

If however the things achieve a sort of fusion, mixture, blending, and if a unity comes into being, not when the process of combination is already complete, but in the very act of combining, to which of our specified motions shall we refer this type? There will certainly be locomotion at first, but it will be succeeded by something different; just as in growth locomotion is found at the outset, though later it is supplanted by quantitative motion.The present case is similar: locomotion leads the way, but integration or disintegration does not inevitably follow; integration takes place only when the impinging elements become intertwined, disintegration only when they are rent asunder by the contact.

On the other hand, it often happens that locomotion follows disintegration, or else occurs simultaneously, though the experience of the disintegrated is not conceived in terms of locomotion: so too in integration a distinct experience, a distinct unification, accompanies the locomotion and remains separate from it.

Are we then to posit a new species for these two motions, adding to them, perhaps, alteration? A thing is altered by becoming dense- in other words, by integration; it is altered again by being rarefied-that is, by disintegration.When wine and water are mixed, something is produced different from either of the pre-existing elements:

thus, integration takes place, resulting in alteration.

But perhaps we should recall a previous distinction, and while holding that integrations and disintegrations precede alterations, should maintain that alterations are nonetheless distinct from either;that, further, not every alteration is of this type [presupposing, that is to say, integration or disintegration], and, in particular, rarefication and condensation are not identical with disintegration and integration, nor in any sense derived from them: to suppose that they were would involve the admission of a vacuum.

Again, can we use integration and disintegration to explain blackness and whiteness? But to doubt the independent existence of these qualities means that, beginning with colours, we may end by annihilating almost all qualities, or rather all without exception;for if we identify every alteration, or qualitative change, with integration and disintegration, we allow nothing whatever to come into existence; the same elements persist, nearer or farther apart.

Finally, how is it possible to class learning and being taught as integrations?

26.We may now take the various specific types of Motion, such as locomotion, and once again enquire for each one whether it is not to be divided on the basis of direction, up, down, straight, circular-a question already raised; whether the organic motion should be distinguished from the inorganic- they are clearly not alike; whether, again, organic motions should be subdivided into walking, swimming and flight.

Perhaps we should also distinguish, in each species, natural from unnatural motions: this distinction would however imply that motions have differences which are not external.It may indeed be the case that motions create these differences and cannot exist without them; but Nature may be supposed to be the ultimate source of motions and differences alike.

Motions may also be classed as natural, artificial and purposive: "natural" embracing growth and decay; "artificial"architecture and shipbuilding; "purposive" enquiry, learning, government, and, in general, all speech and action.

Again, with regard to growth, alteration and birth, the division may proceed from the natural and unnatural, or, speaking generally, from the characters of the moved objects.

同类推荐
  • 诸病源候论

    诸病源候论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Cast Upon the Breakers

    Cast Upon the Breakers

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 纯正蒙求

    纯正蒙求

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • APHORISMS

    APHORISMS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上说轮转五道宿命因缘经

    太上说轮转五道宿命因缘经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 娇妻甜如蜜:樊少,轻轻宠

    娇妻甜如蜜:樊少,轻轻宠

    第一次见面,她吐了他一身。“先生,你好臭哦!”她嫌弃巴巴的吐槽了一波。第二次,她为了躲债,强行拉住他。“先生,借你身体用一下。”第三次再见面,她尴尬的想要逃跑,却被男人一把拎住,“女人,你已经引起我的注意了!”一纸合约他和她成为了契约情侣。一场车祸,两人肝胆相照,相互帮助寻找救援。樊少鹏醒来后得知习琳的离去,愤恨世俗的他开始有些反社会,直到习琳再次出现在展鹏庄园。“你好,我是樊少请来的护工……”
  • 西南夷风土记

    西南夷风土记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 直播帝国

    直播帝国

    斗鱼小员工撞破上司奸情,被逼的家破人亡,重生到斗鱼出世前夕,一手创立了举世无双的斗牛直播平台。想来直播?男的请自便,女的得展示才艺!比如......想看直播?这里有草根主播,有LOL界泰斗,有职业队员,有明星,有世界名人,比如faker,小智,小苍,小漠,蛋糕,冯提莫,五五开,炫神,mini,饼干,超级小杰......。直播分类?游戏,户外,元气,影视,棋牌......
  • 三国凨

    三国凨

    蜜月途中遭遇不测的商人唐凨,竟穿越到汉末无人海岛,且看他如何从一介村夫成长为三国英雄的故事。三国的乱世中,无数英雄辈出,在争锋中跌但起伏、惊险激烈,精彩纷呈。单挑、奇袭、火烧、水战,兵种对决、军团大战,勇武与智谋的巅峰对决!凨临汉末,黄巾起义,东武凨云,诸侯会盟,群雄逐鹿,七雄争霸及至四国演义,最终结局如何,尽在三国凨!
  • 大武侠时代之我有外挂

    大武侠时代之我有外挂

    一次制作外挂的经历意外使朱老五真正的进入了汉时游戏世界,而外挂也成为了朱老五体内的自带系统,系统任务源源不断而来,且看他如何行侠仗义,畅游汉时江湖!
  • 极道甜心大追捕

    极道甜心大追捕

    战国学园统一后改名为大秦学园,大秦学园新学生会主席胡亥为人阴险,把大秦学园搞得一团糟。项羽不顾大明星的身份,选择再次回到大秦学园,虽然此时的学园已经没有曾深爱的她,但项羽身边却突然出现了一个叽叽喳喳的小助理虞妙弋,元气少女虞妙弋认定自己就是项羽命中注定的虞姬,发誓不追到项羽决不罢休,从此小乌鸦虞妙弋对项羽展开了一系列的围追堵截。在新的大秦学园里,刘邦、张良、韩信等风云人物齐登场,学生会长争夺战在大秦学园里悄悄地拉开帷幕……而小乌鸦虞妙弋能否在这纷纷扰扰的学园里捕获到项羽的真心呢?
  • 七里樱

    七里樱

    年少时,我们,似乎成为了世界的主角,遗憾过,苦恼过,伤心心过,但庆幸的是在那个即将逝去的青春里,你世界的男主随着四季辗转在你身旁,陪你笑,陪你哭……终有一天,你发现他只是喜欢你身边的那个人而已…“你知道的,我喜欢她哎。”“没事…”至少我的青春,你来过就好。
  • 季冬纪

    季冬纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 辛夷传

    辛夷传

    这是一本北宋仁宗年间,用不同笔迹书写了二十年的日记。 明道二年,汴梁皇城。天后已死,新皇初立。朝中权臣,后宫闺阁。人心难测,杀机重重。仙韶院女乐张氏,八岁入宫。初为御侍,再成修媛。享尽恩宠正当时,突逢丧子。被贬美人,却又一夜忽为贵妃。看似春风得意,终竟暴毙龙床。仁宗重臣,包拯,苏轼,晏殊,欧阳修,范仲淹,司马光,吕夷简,对其无一不恨。究竟欲海浮沉中的一名小女子,是坏了谁的仕途,毁了谁的权道?