Leviathan
IX. Of the Severall Subjects of Knowledge
Section summary
Knowledge is of two kinds: knowledge of fact, which is sense and memory and is recorded in natural and civil history, and science, the conditional knowledge of consequences, recorded in books of philosophy. A table divides philosophy into natural philosophy, running from first philosophy, geometry and mechanics through physics, astronomy, optics, music, ethics, poetry, rhetoric and logic, and civil philosophy, which treats the rights and duties of sovereigns and subjects.
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 Witnesse. The later is called Science; and is Conditionall; as when we know, that, If The Figure Showne Be A Circle, Then Any Straight Line Through The Centre Shall Divide It Into Two Equall 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 Naturall History; which is the History of such Facts, or Effects of Nature, as have no Dependance on Mans Will; Such as are the Histories of Metals, Plants, Animals, Regions, and the like. The other, is Civill History; which is the History of the Voluntary Actions of men in Common-wealths.
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.
a. Consequences from Quantity, and Motion Indeterminate; which, being the Principles or first foundation of Philosophy, is called Philosophia Prima → PHILOSOPHIA PRIMA.
1) Consequences from Quantity, and Motion Determined: a) By Figure, By Number: 1] Mathematiques → GEOMETRY, ARITHMETIQUE.
a) Consequences from the Motion, and Quantity of the great parts of the World, as the Earth and Stars: 1] Cosmography → ASTRONOMY, GEOGRAPHY.
b) Consequences from the Motion of Speciall kinds, and Figures of Body: 1] Mechaniques, Doctrine of Weight → Science of ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTURE, NAVIGATION.
a. Consequences from the Qualities of Bodies Transient, such as sometimes appear, sometimes vanish → METEOROLOGY.
1) Consequences from the Qualities of the Starres: a) Consequences from the Light of the Starres. Out of this, and the Motion of the Sunne, is made the Science of → SCIOGRAPHY. b) Consequences from the Influence of the Starres → ASTROLOGY.
2) Consequences of the Qualities from Liquid Bodies that fill the space between the Starres; such as are the Ayre, or substance aetherial.
a) Consequences from parts of the Earth that are without Sense: 1] Consequences from Qualities of Minerals, as Stones, Metals, &c. 2] Consequences from the Qualities of Vegetables.
1] Consequences from Qualities of Animals in Generall: a] Consequences from Vision → OPTIQUES. b] Consequences from Sounds → MUSIQUE. c] Consequences from the rest of the senses.
2] Consequences from Qualities of Men in Speciall: a] Consequences from Passions of Men → ETHIQUES. b] Consequences from Speech: i) In Magnifying, Vilifying, etc. → POETRY. ii) In Persuading → RHETORIQUE. iii) In Reasoning → LOGIQUE. iv) In Contracting → The Science of JUST and UNJUST.
B. Consequences from the Accidents of Politique Bodies; which is called POLITIQUES, and CIVILL PHILOSOPHY.
1. Of Consequences from the Institution of COMMON-WEALTHS, to the Rights, and Duties of the Body Politique, or Soveraign.