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| Anaximenes; His System of “An Infinite Air;” His Views of Astronomy and Natural Phenomena.
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Chapter VI.—Anaximenes; His System of “An Infinite
Air;” His Views of Astronomy and Natural Phenomena.
But Anaximenes, who himself was also a native of
Miletus, and son of Eurystratus, affirmed that the originating
principle is infinite air, out of which are generated things existing,
those which have existed, and those that will be, as well as gods and
divine (entities), and that the rest arise from the offspring of
this. But that there is such a species of air, when it is most
even, which is imperceptible to vision, but capable of being manifested
by cold and heat, and moisture and motion, and that it is continually
in motion; for that whatsoever things undergo alteration, do not change
if there is not motion. For that it presents a different
appearance according as it is condensed and attenuated, for when it is
dissolved into what is more attenuated that fire is produced, and that
when it is moderately condensed again into air that a cloud is formed
from the air by virtue of the contraction;79
| 79 Or,
“revolutionary motion.” | but when condensed still more, water, (and)
that when the condensation is carried still further, earth is formed;
and when condensed to the very highest degree, stones. Wherefore,
that the dominant principles of generation are
contraries,—namely, heat and cold. And that the expanded
earth is wafted along upon the air, and in like manner both sun and
moon and the rest of the stars; for all things being of the nature of
fire, are wafted about through the expanse of space, upon the
air. And that the stars are produced from earth by reason of the
mist which arises from this earth; and when this is attenuated,
that fire is produced, and that the stars consist of the fire which is
being borne aloft. But also that there are terrestrial natures in
the region of the stars carried on along with them. And he says
that the stars do not move under the earth, as some have supposed, but
around the earth,80
| 80
Plutarch, in his De Placitis Philosophorum, attributes
both opinions to Anaximenes, viz., that the sun was moved both under
and around the earth. | just as a cap is
turned round our head; and that the sun is hid, not by being under the
earth, but because covered by the higher portions of the earth, and on
account of the greater distance that he is from us. But that the
stars do not emit heat on account of the length of distance; and that
the winds are produced when the condensed air, becoming rarified, is
borne on; and that when collected and thickened still further, clouds
are generated, and thus a change made into water. And that hail
is produced when the water borne down from the clouds becomes
congealed; and that snow is generated when these very clouds, being
more moist, acquire congelation; and that lightning is caused when the
clouds are parted by force of the winds; for when these are sundered
there is produced a brilliant and fiery flash. And that a rainbow
is produced by reason of the rays of the sun falling on the collected
air. And that an earthquake takes place when the earth is altered
into a larger (bulk) by heat and cold. These indeed, then, were
the opinions of Anaximenes. This (philosopher) flourished about
the first year of the lviii. Olympiad.81
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