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The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11)

Part 1 — CHAPTER IX. OF THE SEVERAL SUBJECTS OF KNOWLEDGE.

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Knowledge.

There are of KNOWLEDGE two kinds; whereof one is knowledge of fact: the other knowledge of the consequence of one affirmation to another. The former is nothing else, but sense and memory, and is absolute knowledge; as when we see a fact doing, or remember it done: and this is the knowledge required in a witness. The latter is called science; and is conditional; as when we know, that, if the figure shown be a circle, then any straight line through the centre shall divide it into two equal parts. And this is the knowledge required in a philosopher; that is to say, of him that pretends to reasoning.

The register of knowledge of fact is called history. Whereof there be two sorts: one called natural history; which is the history of such facts, or effects of nature, as have no dependence on man’s will; such as are the histories of metals, plants, animals, regions, and the like. The other, is civil history; which is the history of the voluntary actions of men in commonwealths.

The registers of science, are such books as contain the demonstrations of consequences of one affirmation, to another; and are commonly called books of philosophy; whereof the sorts are many, according to the diversity of the matter; and may be divided in such manner as I have divided them in the following table.

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SCIENCE, that is, knowledge of consequences; which is called also Philosophy. Consequences from the accidents of bodies natural; which is called Natural Philosophy. Consequences from the accidents common to all bodies natural; which are quantity, and motion.

lb500
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lb200
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Consequences from the qualities of bodies transient, such as sometimes appear, sometimes vanish, Meteorology.

lb200
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Physics or consequences from qualities. Consequences from the qualities of the stars.

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Consequences from the qualities of bodies permanent. Consequences of the qualities from liquid bodies, that fill the space between the stars; such as are the air, or substances ethereal.

Consequences from the qualities of bodies terrestrial.

Consequences from the accidents of politic bodies; which is called Politics, and Civil Philosophy. 1. Of consequences from the institution of Commonwealths, to the rights, and duties of the body politic or sovereign.

lb100
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2. Of consequences from the same, to the duty and right of the subjects.

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Consequences from quantity, and motion indeterminate; which being the principles or first foundation of philosophy, is called Philosophia Prima.

lb30
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Consequences from motion and quantity determined. Consequences from quantity, and motion determined. By Figure. Mathematics. Geometry.

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lb60
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rb50
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lb40
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By Number. Arithmetic.

Consequences from the motion, and quantity of bodies in special. Consequences from the motion and quantity of the greater parts of the world, as the earth and stars. Cosmography. Astronomy. Geography.

lb200
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rb100
rb100
lb40
lb40

Consequences from the motions of special kinds, and figures of body. Mechanics. Doctrine of weight. Science of Engineers. Architecture. Navigation.

rb60
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lb60
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Consequences from the light of the stars. Out of this, and the motion of the sun, is made the science of Sciography.

lb60
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rb30
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Consequences from the influences of the stars Astrology.

Consequences from the parts of the earth, that are without sense. Consequences from the qualities of minerals, as stones, metals, &c.

lb300
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lb80
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Consequences from the qualities of vegetables.

Consequences from the qualities of animals in general. Consequences from vision Optics.

lb200
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lb60
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Consequences from sounds Music.

Consequences from the rest of the senses.

Consequences from the qualities of animals. Consequences from the qualities of men in special. Consequences from the passions of men. Ethics.

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Consequences from speech. In magnifying, vilifying, &c. Poetry.

lb150
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rb30
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In persuading, Rhetoric.

In reasoning Logic.

In contracting. The Science of Just and Unjust.

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