Страница 311 из 1391

was not encouraged by the aid of the State in the age of Plato;

and he will recognize the grasp of Plato's mind in his ability to

conceive of one science of solids in motion including the earth

as well as the heavens,-not forgetting to notice the intimation

to which allusion has been already made, that besides astronomy

and harmonics the science of solids in motion may have other

applications. Still more will he be struck with the

comprehensiveness of view which led Plato, at a time when these

sciences hardly existed, to say that they must be studied in

relation to one another, and to the idea of good, or common

principle of truth and being. But he will also see (and perhaps

without surprise) that in that stage of physical and mathematical

knowledge, Plato has fallen into the error of supposing that he

can construct the heavens a priori by mathematical problems, and

determine the principles of harmony irrespective of the

adaptation of sounds to the human ear.