Stanley, Thomas (1625-1678)

The History of Philosophy, in Eight Parts

Humphrey Moseley and Thomas Dring

1656

"We answer, Sight is twofold, corporeal and spirituall; the first is that of Sense, the other the Intellectuall faculty, by which we agree with Angels; this Platonists call Sight, the corporeall being only an Image of this"

This is Beauty in the largest sence, the same with Harmony; whence God is said to have framed the World with musicall harmonious temperament. But Harmony properly implies a melodious agreement of Voices; and Beauty in a restrict acception relates to a proportionable concord in visible things, as Harmony in audible. The desire of this Beauty is Love; arising only from one knowing faculty, the Sight; and that gaye Plotonius, (Ennead. 3. lib. 5. 3.) occasion to deprive Love, from Sight. Here the Platonist may object; If Love be only of visible things, how can it be applyed to Ideas, invisible natures? We answer, Sight is twofold, corporeal and spirituall; the first is that of Sense, the other the Intellectuall faculty, by which we agree with Angels; this Platonists call Sight, the corporeall being only an Image of this. So Aristotle, Intellect is that to the Soul which sight is to the Body: Hence is Minerva (Wisdom) by Homer call'd, Bright-ey'd. With this sight Moses, Saint Paul, and other Saints, beheld the face of God: this Divines call Intellectuall, [in]tuitive cognition, the Beatificall vision, the Reward of the Righteous.
(?.xxxiv.6, pp. 101-2)

Body::Vision

EEBO

Stanley, Thomas. The History of Philosophy, in Eight Parts. Early English Books Online. 2 vols. London: Humphrey Moseley and Thomas Dring, 1656.

10/16/2003