The history of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge / [Thomas Sprat].

  • Thomas Sprat
Date:
[1722]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge / [Thomas Sprat]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    on of thofe times, would not allow a very large Commerce with foreign Nations: they were much exercis’d in the civil Affairs of their Country: they had almoft a perpetual War at home, or abroad: which Kinds of bufie and a&ive Life breed men up indeed for great Employments: but not fo well for the diligent, private, and fevere Examination of thofe little and almoft infinite Curiofities, on which the true Philofophy muft be founded. lofophical Seels Sea. V. In that City therefore, the Knowledge of Nature The Original had its Original, before either that of ^Difcourfe, or of fhe Phi- fouman Actions', but it was quickly forc'd to give way to them both : For it was not yet come to a fufficient Ripenefs, in the time of Socrates; and he, by the Authority of his admirable Wit, made all parts of Philofophy to be taken off from a Conditi¬ on of encreafing much farther, that they might be immediately ferviceable to the Affairs of Men, and the ufes of Life. He was one of the firft Men, that began to draw into fome Order, the confus’d and obfeure Imaginations of thofe that went before him : and to make way for the compofing of Arts, out of their fcattered Obfervations. All thefe various Sub¬ jects, the Vaftnefs of his Soul comprehended in his cafual ^Deputations: but after his Death they were divided amongft his Followers, according to their fevcral Inclinations. From him moft of the fuc- ceeding Sects defeended: and though every one of them had its different Principles and Rendez- voufes; yet they all laid claim to this one common Title of being his <rDifciples. By this means, there was a moft fpccious Appearance of the Increafe of Learning: all places were fill’d with Philofophical Dif-
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