on the heavens-第4章
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Again； if the heaven is infinite and moves in a circle； we shall have to admit that in a finite time it has traversed the infinite。 For suppose the fixed heaven infinite； and that which moves within it equal to it。 It results that when the infinite body has completed its revolution； it has traversed an infinite equal to itself in a finite time。 But that we know to be impossible。 （7） It can also be shown； conversely； that if the time of revolution is finite； the area traversed must also be finite； but the area traversed was equal to itself； therefore； it is itself finite。 We have now shown that the body which moves in a circle is not endless or infinite； but has its limit。
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Further； neither that which moves towards nor that which moves away from the centre can be infinite。 For the upward and downward motions are contraries and are therefore motions towards contrary places。 But if one of a pair of contraries is determinate； the other must be determinate also。 Now the centre is determined； for； from whatever point the body which sinks to the bottom starts its downward motion； it cannot go farther than the centre。 The centre； therefore； being determinate； the upper place must also be determinate。 But if these two places are determined and finite； the corresponding bodies must also be finite。 Further； if up and down are determinate； the intermediate place is also necessarily determinate。 For； if it is indeterminate； the movement within it will be infinite； and that we have already shown to be an impossibility。 The middle region then is determinate； and consequently any body which either is in it； or might be in it； is determinate。 But the bodies which move up and down may be in it； since the one moves naturally away from the centre and the other towards it。 From this alone it is clear that an infinite body is an impossibility； but there is a further point。 If there is no such thing as infinite weight； then it follows that none of these bodies can be infinite。 For the supposed infinite body would have to be infinite in weight。 （The same argument applies to lightness： for as the one supposition involves infinite weight； so the infinity of the body which rises to the surface involves infinite lightness。） This is proved as follows。 Assume the weight to be finite； and take an infinite body； AB； of the weight C。 Subtract from the infinite body a finite mass； BD； the weight of which shall be E。 E then is less than C； since it is the weight of a lesser mass。 Suppose then that the smaller goes into the greater a certain number of times； and take BF bearing the same proportion to BD which the greater weight bears to the smaller。 For you may subtract as much as you please from an infinite。 If now the masses are proportionate to the weights； and the lesser weight is that of the lesser mass； the greater must be that of the greater。 The weights； therefore； of the finite and of the infinite body are equal。 Again； if the weight of a greater body is greater than that of a less； the weight of GB will be greater than that of FB； and thus the weight of the finite body is greater than that of the infinite。 And； further； the weight of unequal masses will be the same； since the infinite and the finite cannot be equal。 It does not matter whether the weights are commensurable or not。 If （a） they are incommensurable the same reasoning holds。 For instance； suppose E multiplied by three is rather more than C： the weight of three masses of the full size of BD will be greater than C。 We thus arrive at the same impossibility as before。 Again （b） we may assume weights which are commensurate； for it makes no difference whether we begin with the weight or with the mass。 For example； assume the weight E to be commensurate with C； and take from the infinite mass a part BD of weight E。 Then let a mass BF be taken having the same proportion to BD which the two weights have to one another。 （For the mass being infinite you may subtract from it as much as you please。） These assumed bodies will be commensurate in mass and in weight alike。 Nor again does it make any difference to our demonstration whether the total mass has its weight equally or unequally distributed。 For it must always be Possible to take from the infinite mass a body of equal weight to BD by diminishing or increasing the size of the section to the necessary extent。 From what we have said； then； it is clear that the weight of the infinite body cannot be finite。 It must then be infinite。 We have therefore only to show this to be impossible in order to prove an infinite body impossible。 But the impossibility of infinite weight can be shown in the following way。 A given weight moves a given distance in a given time； a weight which is as great and more moves the same distance in a less time； the times being in inverse proportion to the weights。 For instance； if one weight is twice another； it will take half as long over a given movement。 Further； a finite weight traverses any finite distance in a finite time。 It necessarily follows from this that infinite weight； if there is such a thing； being； on the one hand； as great and more than as great as the finite； will move accordingly； but being； on the other hand； compelled to move in a time inversely proportionate to its greatness； cannot move at all。 The time should be less in proportion as the weight is greater。 But there is no proportion between the infinite and the finite： proportion can only hold between a less and a greater finite time。 And though you may say that the time of the movement can be continually diminished； yet there is no minimum。 Nor； if there were； would it help us。 For some finite body could have been found greater than the given finite in the same proportion which is supposed to hold between the infinite and the given finite； so that an infinite and a finite weight must have traversed an equal distance in equal time。 But that is impossible。 Again； whatever the time； so long as it is finite； in which the infinite performs the motion； a finite weight must necessarily move a certain finite distance in that same time。 Infinite weight is therefore impossible； and the same reasoning applies also to infinite lightness。 Bodies then of infinite weight and of infinite lightness are equally impossible。 That there is no infinite body may be shown； as we have shown it； by a detailed consideration of the various cases。 But it may also be shown universally； not only by such reasoning as we advanced in our discussion of principles （though in that passage we have already determined universally the sense in which the existence of an infinite is to be asserted or denied）； but also suitably to our present purpose in the following way。 That will lead us to a further question。 Even if the total mass is not infinite； it may yet be great enough to admit a plurality of universes。 The question might possibly be raised whether there is any obstacle to our believing that there are other universes composed on the pattern of our own； more than one； though stopping short of infinity。 First； however； let us treat of the infinite universally。
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Every body must necessarily be either finite or infinite； and if infinite； either of similar or of dissimilar parts。 If its parts are dissimilar； they must represent either a finite or an infinite number of kinds。 That the kinds cannot be infinite is evident； if our original presuppositions remain unchallenged。 For the primary movements being finite in number； the kinds of simple body are necessarily also finite； since the movement of a simple body is simple； and the simple movements are finite； and every natural body must always have its proper motion。 Now if the infinite body is to be composed of a finite number of kinds； then each of its parts must necessarily be infinite in quantity； that is to say； the water； fire； &c。； which compose it。 But this is impossible； because； as we have already shown； infinite weight and lightness do not exist。 Moreover it would be necessary also that their places should be infinite in extent； so that the movements too of all these bodies would be infinite。 But this is not possible； if we are to hold to the truth of
