But shall gravity be therefore called an occult cause, and…
“But shall gravity be therefore called an occult cause, and thrown out of philosophy, because the cause of gravity is occult and not yet discovered? Those who affirm this, should be careful not to fall into an absurdity that may overturn the foundations of all philosophy. For causes usually proceed in a continued chain from those that are more compounded to those that are more simple; when we are arrived at the most simple cause we can go no farther ... These most simple causes will you then call occult and reject them? Then you must reject those that immediately depend on them.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Questioning occult causes of gravity warns against dismissing unknown simple causes, urging careful philosophical reasoning.
In simple terms: Don’t reject unknown causes without scrutiny.
Key Takeaway
Examine simple causes before discarding them.
Themes
Philosophy
Science
Causality
Gravity
Occult
Mood
inquisitive
thoughtful
Type
Absurdity:0
Be careful:1
Careful:0
Causes:1
Chains:0
Depends:0
Fall:0
Foundation:0
Gravity:1
May:0
Occult:1
Philosophy:1
Rejects:0
Science:0
Should:0
Simple:1
Thrown:0
Philosophy Cause:0
Cause Gravity:0
Gravity Occult:0
Occult Cause:0
Causes Occult:0
When to use this quote
- Scientific inquiry
- Educational debate
- Historical analysis
Key Concepts
Epistemology
Methodology
Skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports a simple cause?
- How to balance skepticism and open inquiry?
A Different Perspective
Occult explanations can be premature.