The Rationality of the World: The First Argument

Abstract

The assertion of the intrinsic orderliness of the world is expressed in the Aristotelian laws of thought: no thing can both be itself and another at the same time and in the same respect. Each existing thing must possess some definite figure; it cannot both possess certain attributes and not possess them. All things have a structure, a being of their own. Everything has some structure; it is not both itself and something else. Thus the world is rational, consisting of definite and differentiated structures. And, reason, whose function it is to calculate order, records that intrinsic structure. There is a congruence and a correspondence between thought and being.

Cardinal: You people speak in terms of circles and ellipses and regular velocities—simple movements that the human mind can grasp—very convenient—but suppose Almighty God had taken it into His head to make tghe stars move like that—(he describes an irregualar motion with his fingers through the air) — then where would you be?

Galileo: My good man— the Almighty would have endowed us with brains like thats— (he repeats the movement) — so that we could grasp the movements—(repeats the movement) — like that. I beleive in the brain.