Kitap 14
6
Further, why on earth is it that whereas all other things which are derived from contraries or have contraries perish, even if the contrary is exhausted in producing them,Because it may be regarded as still potentially present. number does not perish? Of this no explanation is given; yet whether it is inherent or not, a contrary is destructive; e.g., Strife destroys the mixture.According to Empedocles Fr. 17 (Diels). It should not, however, do this; because the mixture is not its contrary.
7
Nor is it in any way defined in which sense numbers are the causes of substances and of Being; whether as bounds,The theories criticized from this point onwards to Aristot. Met. 14.6.11 are primarily Pythagorean. See Introduction. e.g. as points are the bounds of spatial magnitudes,e.g. the line by 2 points, the triangle (the simplest plane figure) by 3, the tetrahedron (the simplest solid figure) by 4. and as EurytusDisciple of Philolaus; he flourished in the early fourth century B.C. determined which number belongs to which thing—e.g. this number to man, and this to horse—by using pebbles to copy the shape of natural objects, like those who arrange numbers in the form of geometrical figures, the triangle and the square.cf. Burnet, E.G.P. sect. 47.
