Part I, Chapter IX

OF THE VARIOUS SUBJECTS OF KNOWLEDGE

There are two kinds of KNOWLEDGE: one is knowledge of fact; the other, knowledge of the consequence of one assertion from another. The first is simply sense and memory, and is absolute knowledge, as when we see an act being done or remember its having been done. This is the knowledge required of a witness. The second is called science and is conditional, as when we know that if the figure shown is a circle, then any straight line through its center will divide it into two equal parts. This is the knowledge required of a philosopher, that is, someone who professes to reason.

The record of knowledge of fact is called history. It has two kinds: one is called natural history, the history of facts or effects of nature that do not depend on human will, such as the histories of metals, plants, animals, regions, and the like. The other is civil history, the history of people's voluntary actions in Common-wealths.

The records of science are books containing demonstrations of the consequences of one assertion from another; these are commonly called books of philosophy. They have many kinds, corresponding to the diversity of their subjects, and may be divided as I have divided them in the following table.

I. Science, that is, knowledge of consequences, also called PHILOSOPHY

A. Consequences from the properties of natural bodies, called

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

1 Consequences from the properties common to all natural bodies,

which are quantity and motion.

a. Consequences from quantity and motion considered without determination,

which, being the principles or first foundation of

philosophy, are called Philosophia Prima

FIRST PHILOSOPHY

b. Consequences from motion and quantity as determined

1) Consequences from quantity and motion as determined

a) By figure, by number

1] Mathematics,

GEOMETRY

ARITHMETIC

2) Consequences from the motion and quantity of particular

bodies

a) Consequences from the motion and quantity of the

great parts of the world, such as the Earth and stars,

1] Cosmography

ASTRONOMY

GEOGRAPHY

b) Consequences from the motion of particular kinds and

shapes of bodies,

1] Mechanics, doctrine of weight

Science of

ENGINEERING

ARCHITECTURE

NAVIGATION

2 PHYSICS, or consequences from qualities

a. Consequences from the qualities of transient bodies, such

as sometimes appear and sometimes vanish

METEOROLOGY

b. Consequences from the qualities of permanent bodies

1) Consequences from the qualities of the stars

a) Consequences from the light of the stars. From

this, and the motion of the Sun, comes the

science of

SCIOGRAPHY

b) Consequences from the influence of the stars,

ASTROLOGY

2) Consequences from the qualities of liquid bodies that

fill the space between the stars, such as the

air or ethereal substance.

3) Consequences from the qualities of terrestrial bodies

a) Consequences from parts of the Earth that are

without sense,

1] Consequences from the qualities of minerals, such as

stones, metals, etc.

2] Consequences from the qualities of plants

b) Consequences from the qualities of animals

1] Consequences from the qualities of animals in

general

a] Consequences from vision,

OPTICS

b] Consequences from sounds,

MUSIC

c] Consequences from the other senses

2] Consequences from the qualities of human beings in particular

a] Consequences from human passions,

ETHICS

b] Consequences from speech,

i) In magnifying, vilifying, etc.

POETRY

ii) In persuading,

RHETORIC

iii) In reasoning,

LOGIC

iv) In contracting,

The science of

JUST and UNJUST

B. Consequences from the properties of political bodies, called

POLITICS and CIVIL PHILOSOPHY

1 Of consequences from the institution of COMMON-WEALTHS to

the rights and duties of the political body, or Sovereign.

2 Of consequences from the same to the duty and right of

the subjects.

CHAPTER X. OF POWER, WORTH, DIGNITY, HONOR AND WORTHINESS

Of the Different Subjects of Knowledge

Knowledge has two kinds. One is knowledge of fact, and the other is knowledge of how one statement follows from another. The first consists only of the senses and memory. It is absolute knowledge, such as seeing an act take place or remembering it afterward. This is the knowledge required of a witness. The second kind is called science and is conditional. For example, if the figure shown is a circle, then any straight line through its center divides it into two equal parts. This is the knowledge required of a philosopher, meaning someone who claims to reason.

The record of knowledge of facts is called history. There are two kinds. Natural history records facts or natural effects that do not depend on human will, such as the histories of metals, plants, animals, and regions. Civil history records people's voluntary actions in Common-wealths.

The records of science are books demonstrating how one statement follows from another. They are usually called books of philosophy. There are many kinds, according to their subject matter. They can be divided as in the following table.

I. Science, or knowledge of consequences, also called philosophy

A. Consequences of the properties of natural bodies: natural philosophy

1 Consequences of the properties common to all natural bodies: quantity and motion

a. Consequences of quantity and motion considered without specifying them. These are the principles, or first foundations, of philosophy: Philosophia Prima.

First philosophy

b. Consequences of specified motion and quantity

1) Consequences of quantity and motion specified by shape and number

1] Mathematics

Geometry

Arithmetic

2) Consequences of the motion and quantity of particular kinds of bodies

a) Consequences of the motion and quantity of the great parts of the world, such as the earth and stars

1] Cosmography

Astronomy

Geography

b) Consequences of the motion of particular kinds and shapes of bodies

1] Mechanics, the study of weight

The sciences of

Engineering

Architecture

Navigation

2 Physics, or consequences of qualities

a. Consequences of the qualities of transient bodies, which sometimes appear and sometimes vanish

Meteorology

b. Consequences of the qualities of enduring bodies

1) Consequences of the qualities of stars

a) Consequences of starlight. Together with the sun's motion, this produces the science of

Sciography

b) Consequences of the influence of stars

Astrology

2) Consequences of the qualities of liquid bodies filling the space between stars, such as air or ethereal substance

3) Consequences of the qualities of earthly bodies

a) Consequences of parts of the earth without senses

1] Consequences of the qualities of minerals, such as stones and metals, etc.

2] Consequences of the qualities of plants

b) Consequences of the qualities of animals

1] Consequences of the qualities of animals in general

a] Consequences of vision

Optics

b] Consequences of sounds

Music

c] Consequences of the other senses

2] Consequences of the qualities specific to humans

a] Consequences of human passions

Ethics

b] Consequences of speech

i) In praising, disparaging, etc.

Poetry

ii) In persuading

Rhetoric

iii) In reasoning

Logic

iv) In making contracts

The science of

just and unjust

B. Consequences of the properties of political bodies: politics and civil philosophy

1 Consequences of establishing Common-wealths for the rights and duties of the political body, or Soveraigne

2 Consequences of that same establishment for the duties and rights of subjects

Chapter X. Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honor, and Worthiness