Philosophies and laws are lost, not through a penury of word-interpreters, but through a scarcity of
profound
thinkers.
Bruno-Cause-Principle-and-Unity
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
.
Fromthescrutinyofthemacrocosm,onecaneasilyarrive (necessaria deductione facta a simili [having made the necessary deduction by similitude]) at the knowledge of the microcosm, the most minute parts of which correspond to parts of the former.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So that, within you, we will find the moon, Mercury and other heavenly bodies, as well as France, Spain, Italy, England, Calcutta and other lands?
1 From Matthew ? ? , ? . 2 Cicero, fragm. De meo consulatu. 3 Magistrates. 4 Matthew ? ? , ? ? . 5 Allusion to the Plinian adage: 'Nulla dies sine linea. ' 6 Livy ? ? , ? ? .
? ? ?
Cause, principle and unity
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Quidni? per quandam analogiam [Why not? by a certain analogy].
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Perquandamanalogiam,Ibelieveyoutobeagreatmonarch, but if you were a woman, I would ask you if you have a place to lodge a baby, or stick one of those plants Diogenes speaks of. 7
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Ha, ha! Quodammodo facete [Quite prettily put]. But such questions are not befitting a sage and scholar.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . IfIwereascholar,andifIconsideredmyselfwise,Iwould not come here to learn with you.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . You, yes, but I do not come to learn, for nunc meum est docere; mea quoque interest eos qui docere volunt iudicare [my office now is to teach; my concern is also to pass judgement on those who wish to teach]. Hence, I come with another purpose than that which must bring you, whose role is that of apprentice, novice and disciple.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Forwhatpurpose?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Tojudge,Isaid.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Indeed,foroneofyoursortitisbettertojudgethesciences
and doctrines than for others, since you are the only ones to whom the lib- erality of the stars and the munificence of fate have bequeathed the power to draw out the sap from words.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . And consequently also from thoughts, which are bound to words.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Assoultobody.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Words that, rightly understood, give a thorough grasp of the sense: thus, from a knowledge of languages (in which I, more than any- one else in this city, am expert, and in which I count myself no less learned than any who run minerval schools) is derived the knowledge of all science.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So, all who understand Italian will grasp the Nolan's philosophy?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Yes,butitalsotakessomeexerciseandjudgement.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Awhileago,Ithoughtthatthisexercisewasthemainthing, because someone who knows no Greek can nonetheless comprehend all Aristotle's meaning, and also pick out many of his errors. Similarly we see that the idolatry surrounding the authority of that philosopher (mainly regarding natural things) has been entirely abolished among all who grasp the notions of this other sect; a man who knows no Greek, nor Arabic, nor perhaps Latin, like Paracelsus, can have a better knowledge of
7 Alludes to the obscene saying of Diogenes, 'planto hominem'. ? ?
? Third dialogue
? the properties of drugs and medicine than Galen, Avicenna and all those who communicate with the Roman tongue.
Philosophies and laws are lost, not through a penury of word-interpreters, but through a scarcity of profound thinkers.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So, you number a man like me among the dull-witted multitude?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . God forbid. I know that, with study and knowledge (rare and remarkable things), you and your peers are thoroughly equipped to judge doctrines, after having sifted through the opinions of the people who champion them.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Sinceyouarenowspeakingthepuretruth,itisnotsohard to persuade myself that you have some motive. If it is not too hard for you, pray take the trouble to set it out.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . I will say this (submitting myself throughout to your wise and prudent judgement): it is a common proverb that those who are not in a game follow it better than the ones playing. Similarly, those watching a play can better judge of the performance than the actors on the stage, and in the same way music can be better heard by someone not part of the orchestra or choir. It is the same with card games, chess, fencing and the like: and so, you other gentlemen pedants, excluded from all scientific and philosophical activity, not having nor ever having had anything to do with Aristotle, Plato and their kind, can better judge and condemn them with your grammatical matchlessness and natural presumption, than the Nolan, who finds himself on the same stage and in such familiarity and intimacy with them, having made out their most profound and innermost notions, that he fights them easily. I say that you, because you are outside every practice of gentlemen or extraordinary wits, can better judge them.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Ihavenoideahowtoanswerthisgrossimpudencepoint- blank. Vox faucibus haesit [The voice sticks in the throat]8.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So, your sort possess that presumption lacking in those whose feet are deep into the question; therefore, I assure you it is with good title that you usurp the function of approving this, reproving that, glossing still the other, here drawing up a table of concordances, there an appendix.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . This complete ignoramus wishes to infer from the fact that I am versed in letters that I am ignorant of philosophy!
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Most learned Poliinnio, sir, I must tell you that even if you knew all the languages there are, which our preachers number seventy-two . . .
8 Virgil, Aeneid, ii, ? ? ? . ? ?
? Cause, principle and unity
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Cumdimidia[andonehalf].
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . . . . not only would it not follow that you, sir, are capable of judging philosophers, but what is more, it would certainly follow that you cannot help being the biggest, most bumbling beast that exists in human form; besides, there is nothing to prevent anyone who has the least knowledge of any of these tongues, even a bastard one, from being the wisest and most learned man in the whole world. Consider how useful these two have been now: one, a French archpedant,9 who has composed the Studies in the Liberal Arts and the Animadversions Against Aristotle, and another pedant scum, this one Italian, who has besmeared many an opuscule with his Peripatetic Discussions10. Everyone plainly sees that the first one very eloquently demonstrates his lack of intelligence, while the second shows that he has much in him of the beast and the ass, to put it bluntly. The first shows that he has understood Aristotle, at least, but badly. If he had understood him well, he might also have had the wit to wage honourable war with him, as the most judicious Telesio of Cosenza has. 11 Of the second, it is impossible to say whether he understood Aristotle either well or badly, but it can be claimed that he has read and re-read him, taken him apart, stitched him up again, and compared him pro [for] and con [against] with a thousand other Greek authors, going to the great- est lengths not only without any profit whatsoever, but etiam [even] to great loss. Whoever wants to see how far into insanity and presumptuous vanity a pedantic way of thinking can sink us has only to read this one book, before it disappears without a trace. But here come Teofilo and Dicsono.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Adestefelices,domini[youcomeattherighttime,masters]: your arrival prevents my glowing anger from exploding into thundering judgements against the vain remarks issued by this sterile chatterer.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . And it blocks me from mocking the majesty of this most venerable owl.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Alliswelliftempersdonotflare.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . WhatIsay,Isayinjest,becauseoftheaffectionIfeelforthe honourable master.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Ego quoque quod irascor, non serio irascor, quia Gervasium non odi [That holds for me too. If I grow angry, my anger is not serious, for I do not hate Gervasio. ]
9 Peter Ramus (? ? ? ? -? ? ), author of Scholae in Liberales and Aristoteliae Animadversiones. 10 Francesco Patrizi (? ? ? ? -? ? ). 11 Bernardino Telesio (? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So that, within you, we will find the moon, Mercury and other heavenly bodies, as well as France, Spain, Italy, England, Calcutta and other lands?
1 From Matthew ? ? , ? . 2 Cicero, fragm. De meo consulatu. 3 Magistrates. 4 Matthew ? ? , ? ? . 5 Allusion to the Plinian adage: 'Nulla dies sine linea. ' 6 Livy ? ? , ? ? .
? ? ?
Cause, principle and unity
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Quidni? per quandam analogiam [Why not? by a certain analogy].
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Perquandamanalogiam,Ibelieveyoutobeagreatmonarch, but if you were a woman, I would ask you if you have a place to lodge a baby, or stick one of those plants Diogenes speaks of. 7
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Ha, ha! Quodammodo facete [Quite prettily put]. But such questions are not befitting a sage and scholar.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . IfIwereascholar,andifIconsideredmyselfwise,Iwould not come here to learn with you.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . You, yes, but I do not come to learn, for nunc meum est docere; mea quoque interest eos qui docere volunt iudicare [my office now is to teach; my concern is also to pass judgement on those who wish to teach]. Hence, I come with another purpose than that which must bring you, whose role is that of apprentice, novice and disciple.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Forwhatpurpose?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Tojudge,Isaid.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Indeed,foroneofyoursortitisbettertojudgethesciences
and doctrines than for others, since you are the only ones to whom the lib- erality of the stars and the munificence of fate have bequeathed the power to draw out the sap from words.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . And consequently also from thoughts, which are bound to words.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Assoultobody.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Words that, rightly understood, give a thorough grasp of the sense: thus, from a knowledge of languages (in which I, more than any- one else in this city, am expert, and in which I count myself no less learned than any who run minerval schools) is derived the knowledge of all science.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So, all who understand Italian will grasp the Nolan's philosophy?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Yes,butitalsotakessomeexerciseandjudgement.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Awhileago,Ithoughtthatthisexercisewasthemainthing, because someone who knows no Greek can nonetheless comprehend all Aristotle's meaning, and also pick out many of his errors. Similarly we see that the idolatry surrounding the authority of that philosopher (mainly regarding natural things) has been entirely abolished among all who grasp the notions of this other sect; a man who knows no Greek, nor Arabic, nor perhaps Latin, like Paracelsus, can have a better knowledge of
7 Alludes to the obscene saying of Diogenes, 'planto hominem'. ? ?
? Third dialogue
? the properties of drugs and medicine than Galen, Avicenna and all those who communicate with the Roman tongue.
Philosophies and laws are lost, not through a penury of word-interpreters, but through a scarcity of profound thinkers.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So, you number a man like me among the dull-witted multitude?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . God forbid. I know that, with study and knowledge (rare and remarkable things), you and your peers are thoroughly equipped to judge doctrines, after having sifted through the opinions of the people who champion them.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Sinceyouarenowspeakingthepuretruth,itisnotsohard to persuade myself that you have some motive. If it is not too hard for you, pray take the trouble to set it out.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . I will say this (submitting myself throughout to your wise and prudent judgement): it is a common proverb that those who are not in a game follow it better than the ones playing. Similarly, those watching a play can better judge of the performance than the actors on the stage, and in the same way music can be better heard by someone not part of the orchestra or choir. It is the same with card games, chess, fencing and the like: and so, you other gentlemen pedants, excluded from all scientific and philosophical activity, not having nor ever having had anything to do with Aristotle, Plato and their kind, can better judge and condemn them with your grammatical matchlessness and natural presumption, than the Nolan, who finds himself on the same stage and in such familiarity and intimacy with them, having made out their most profound and innermost notions, that he fights them easily. I say that you, because you are outside every practice of gentlemen or extraordinary wits, can better judge them.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Ihavenoideahowtoanswerthisgrossimpudencepoint- blank. Vox faucibus haesit [The voice sticks in the throat]8.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . So, your sort possess that presumption lacking in those whose feet are deep into the question; therefore, I assure you it is with good title that you usurp the function of approving this, reproving that, glossing still the other, here drawing up a table of concordances, there an appendix.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . This complete ignoramus wishes to infer from the fact that I am versed in letters that I am ignorant of philosophy!
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Most learned Poliinnio, sir, I must tell you that even if you knew all the languages there are, which our preachers number seventy-two . . .
8 Virgil, Aeneid, ii, ? ? ? . ? ?
? Cause, principle and unity
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Cumdimidia[andonehalf].
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . . . . not only would it not follow that you, sir, are capable of judging philosophers, but what is more, it would certainly follow that you cannot help being the biggest, most bumbling beast that exists in human form; besides, there is nothing to prevent anyone who has the least knowledge of any of these tongues, even a bastard one, from being the wisest and most learned man in the whole world. Consider how useful these two have been now: one, a French archpedant,9 who has composed the Studies in the Liberal Arts and the Animadversions Against Aristotle, and another pedant scum, this one Italian, who has besmeared many an opuscule with his Peripatetic Discussions10. Everyone plainly sees that the first one very eloquently demonstrates his lack of intelligence, while the second shows that he has much in him of the beast and the ass, to put it bluntly. The first shows that he has understood Aristotle, at least, but badly. If he had understood him well, he might also have had the wit to wage honourable war with him, as the most judicious Telesio of Cosenza has. 11 Of the second, it is impossible to say whether he understood Aristotle either well or badly, but it can be claimed that he has read and re-read him, taken him apart, stitched him up again, and compared him pro [for] and con [against] with a thousand other Greek authors, going to the great- est lengths not only without any profit whatsoever, but etiam [even] to great loss. Whoever wants to see how far into insanity and presumptuous vanity a pedantic way of thinking can sink us has only to read this one book, before it disappears without a trace. But here come Teofilo and Dicsono.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Adestefelices,domini[youcomeattherighttime,masters]: your arrival prevents my glowing anger from exploding into thundering judgements against the vain remarks issued by this sterile chatterer.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . And it blocks me from mocking the majesty of this most venerable owl.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Alliswelliftempersdonotflare.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . WhatIsay,Isayinjest,becauseoftheaffectionIfeelforthe honourable master.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . Ego quoque quod irascor, non serio irascor, quia Gervasium non odi [That holds for me too. If I grow angry, my anger is not serious, for I do not hate Gervasio. ]
9 Peter Ramus (? ? ? ? -? ? ), author of Scholae in Liberales and Aristoteliae Animadversiones. 10 Francesco Patrizi (? ? ? ? -? ? ). 11 Bernardino Telesio (? ? ?
