HPS tutorial help.... :(

[Abdi]

hello everyone.......
 I'm having problems doing this as this is my first time....

just wanted to know how do you go about writing a response to these passages? This is History and philosophy of Science at Melb uni....

PASSAGES
a. The machine of the universe is divided into two, the ethereal and the elementary
region. The elementary region, existing subject to continual alteration, is divided
into four. For there is earth, placed, as it were, as the centre in the middle of all,
about which is water, about water air, about air fire, which … reaches to the
sphere of the moon… For so God, the glorious and sublime, disposed. And these
are called the four elements, which are in turn by themselves altered, corrupted
and regenerated… Around the elementary region revolves with continuous
circular motion the ethereal, which is lucid and immune from all variation in its
immutable essence. And it is called the “Fifth essence” by the philosophers.

b. Magic is a faculty of wonderful power, full of most high mysteries. It contains the
most profound contemplation of things which are most secret together with their
nature, power, quality, substance and virtues, and the knowledge of the whole of
nature... It also joins and knits firmly together compatible inferior objects by
means of the powers and virtues of superior bodies… So we say that here on earth
there exist certain things which pertain to the Sun and some which pertain to the
Moon, because in them the Sun and the moon give rise to something of their own
power.

c. Anaximenes … like Anaximander, declares that the underlying nature is one and
boundless, but not indeterminate as Anaximander held, but definite, saying that it
is air. It differs in rarity and density according to the substance [it becomes].
Becoming finer it comes to be fire; becoming condensed it comes to be wind, then
cloud, and when still further condensed it becomes water, then earth, then stones,
and the rest come to be out of these. He makes motion eternal and says change
also comes through it.

d. From these considerations it is clear that the earth does not move, neither does it lie
anywhere but at the centre… If it is inherent in the nature of earth to move from all
sides to the centre (as observation shows), and of fire to move away from the centre
towards the extremity, it is impossible for any portion of earth to move from the
centre except under constraint; for one body has one motion and a simple body has a
simple motion, not two opposite motions, and motion from the centre is opposite of
motion towards it. If then any particular portion is incapable of moving from the
centre, it is clear that the earth itself as a whole is more incapable, since it is natural
for the whole to be in the place towards which the part has a natural motion. If then it
cannot move except by agency of a stronger force, it must remain in the centre


Kind regards,

Abdi

[pooshwaltzer]

A:
Segregation of ethereal from the elements is subject to contention. All things but exist under frequency of motion and the impact of particles, the ebbs and flows of which characterizes manifestation of the end product. This should occur irrespective or whether the subject of origination was of the cognitively semantic or otherwise of a more physically tangible existence. As such, what has being intentionally coined as 'ethereal' by mortal terminology would in fact, and arguably so, be of correspondence with philosophers' mysterious and transcending 'fifth essence'. Fire, water, air and earth are material beings which may be subject to manipulation, control and annexation. However, one's congenital innateness - thoughts inherent - are representative of sovereign domain, sacred sanctuary and thus incorrigibly free from corruptive externalities.


Now do the same for B C D

[Abdi]

thanks heaps

[Abdi]

hey I don't understand the historical significance for B and C? :S

[Abdi]

and I can't seem to find in my subject reader the authors of the passages for A and c :O