on the heavens-第8章
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tronger than it to move it…since that would mean more divine…and it has no defect and lacks none of its proper excellences。 Its unceasing movement； then； is also reasonable； since everything ceases to move when it comes to its proper place； but the body whose path is the circle has one and the same place for starting…point and goal。
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Having established these distinctions； we may now proceed to the question whether the heaven is ungenerated or generated； indestructible or destructible。 Let us start with a review of the theories of other thinkers； for the proofs of a theory are difficulties for the contrary theory。 Besides； those who have first heard the pleas of our adversaries will be more likely to credit the assertions which we are going to make。 We shall be less open to the charge of procuring judgement by default。 To give a satisfactory decision as to the truth it is necessary to be rather an arbitrator than a party to the dispute。 That the world was generated all are agreed； but； generation over； some say that it is eternal； others say that it is destructible like any other natural formation。 Others again； with Empedliocles of Acragas and Heraclitus of Ephesus； believe that there is alternation in the destructive process； which takes now this direction； now that； and continues without end。 Now to assert that it was generated and yet is eternal is to assert the impossible； for we cannot reasonably attribute to anything any characteristics but those which observation detects in many or all instances。 But in this case the facts point the other way： generated things are seen always to be destroyed。 Further； a thing whose present state had no beginning and which could not have been other than it was at any previous moment throughout its entire duration； cannot possibly be changed。 For there will have to be some cause of change； and if this had been present earlier it would have made possible another condition of that to which any other condition was impossible。 Suppose that the world was formed out of elements which were formerly otherwise conditioned than as they are now。 Then （1） if their condition was always so and could not have been otherwise； the world could never have come into being。 And （2） if the world did come into being； then； clearly； their condition must have been capable of change and not eternal： after combination therefore they will be dispersed； just as in the past after dispersion they came into combination； and this process either has been； or could have been； indefinitely repeated。 But if this is so； the world cannot be indestructible； and it does not matter whether the change of condition has actually occurred or remains a possibility。 Some of those who hold that the world； though indestructible； was yet generated； try to support their case by a parallel which is illusory。 They say that in their statements about its generation they are doing what geometricians do when they construct their figures； not implying that the universe really had a beginning； but for didactic reasons facilitating understanding by exhibiting the object； like the figure； as in course of formation。 The two cases； as we said； are not parallel； for； in the construction of the figure； when the various steps are completed the required figure forthwith results； but in these other demonstrations what results is not that which was required。 Indeed it cannot be so； for antecedent and consequent； as assumed； are in contradiction。 The ordered； it is said； arose out of the unordered； and the same thing cannot be at the same time both ordered and unordered； there must be a process and a lapse of time separating the two states。 In the figure； on the other hand； there is no temporal separation。 It is clear then that the universe cannot be at once eternal and generated。 To say that the universe alternately combines and dissolves is no more paradoxical than to make it eternal but varying in shape。 It is as if one were to think that there was now destruction and now existence when from a child a man is generated； and from a man a child。 For it is clear that when the elements come together the result is not a chance system and combination； but the very same as before…especially on the view of those who hold this theory； since they say that the contrary is the cause of each state。 So that if the totality of body； which is a continuum； is now in this order or disposition and now in that； and if the combination of the whole is a world or heaven； then it will not be the world that comes into being and is destroyed； but only its dispositions。 If the world is believed to be one； it is impossible to suppose that it should be； as a whole； first generated and then destroyed； never to reappear； since before it came into being there was always present the combination prior to it； and that； we hold； could never change if it was never generated。 If； on the other hand； the worlds are infinite in number the view is more plausible。 But whether this is； or is not； impossible will be clear from what follows。 For there are some who think it possible both for the ungenerated to be destroyed and for the generated to persist undestroyed。 （This is held in the Timaeus； where Plato says that the heaven； though it was generated； will none the less exist to eternity。） So far as the heaven is concerned we have answered this view with arguments appropriate to the nature of the heaven： on the general question we shall attain clearness when we examine the matter universally。
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We must first distinguish the senses in which we use the words 'ungenerated' and 'generated'； 'destructible' and 'indestructible'。 These have many meanings； and though it may make no difference to the argument； yet some confusion of mind must result from treating as uniform in its use a word which has several distinct applications。 The character which is the ground of the predication will always remain obscure。 The word 'ungenerated' then is used （a） in one sense whenever something now is which formerly was not； no process of becoming or change being involved。 Such is the case； according to some； with contact and motion； since there is no process of coming to be in contact or in motion。 （b） It is used in another sense； when something which is capable of coming to be； with or without process； does not exist； such a thing is ungenerated in the sense that its generation is not a fact but a possibility。 （c） It is also applied where there is general impossibility of any generation such that the thing now is which then was not。 And 'impossibility' has two uses： first； where it is untrue to say that the thing can ever come into being； and secondly； where it cannot do so easily； quickly； or well。 In the same way the word 'generated' is used； （a） first； where what formerly was not afterwards is； whether a process of becoming was or was not involved； so long as that which then was not； now is； （b） secondly； of anything capable of existing； 'capable' being defined with reference either to truth or to facility； （c） thirdly； of anything to which the passage from not being to being belongs； whether already actual； if its existence is due to a past process of becoming； or not yet actual but only possible。 The uses of the words 'destructible' and 'indestructible' are similar。 'Destructible' is applied （a） to that which formerly was and afterwards either is not or might not be； whether a period of being destroyed and changed intervenes or not； and （b） sometimes we apply the word to that which a process of destruction may cause not to be； and also （c） in a third sense； to that which is easily destructible； to the 'easily destroyed'； so to speak。 Of the indestructible the same account holds good。 It is either （a） that which now is and now is not； without any process of destruction； like contact； which without being destroyed afterwards is not； though formerly it was； or （b） that which is but might not be； or which will at some time not be； though it now is。 For you exist now and so does the contact； yet both are destructible； because a time will come when it will not be true of you that you exist； nor of these things that they are in contact
