On the properties of matter, the principles of chemistry, and the nature and construction of aeriform fluids, or gases / [E. Peart].

  • Edward Peart
Date:
1792
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the properties of matter, the principles of chemistry, and the nature and construction of aeriform fluids, or gases / [E. Peart]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/120 (page 6)
    tide is not: two particles can only attract each other, when in contaff. But, becaufe we cannot comprehend the nature of this property, of this attraction, are we to have recourfe to immateriality ?—is not that folving obfcurum per obfcurius ?—when we fay one par¬ ticle of matter hath the property of attracting another particle of matter, is not that more fimple and intelligible, than to fay that a particle of mat¬ ter is furrounded by an immaterial fphere, which immaterial fphere hath the property of attracting another immaterial attractive fphere, furrounding another particle of matter ?—for granting, for a moment, the exigence of immateriality, it does not follow that attraction is elfential to that im¬ materiality, or implied in its exigence, for if it were, what would become of the equally immate¬ rial fphere of repulfion, attributed to matter ?— therefore, if there can be an immaterial exigence, it may ftill be without the power of attraction, and, confequently, if matter be fuppofed to be furrounded by an immaterial fphere, we rauft