CHAPTER IX
OF THE SEVERAL SUBJECT OF KNOWLEDGE

THERE are of are of knowledge two kinds, whereof one is knowledge of
fact; the other, knowledge of the consequence of one affirmation to
another. The former is nothing else but sense and memory, and is
absolute knowledge; as when we see a fact doing, or remember it
done; and this is the knowledge required in a witness. The latter is
called science, and is conditional; as when we know that: if the
figure shown be a circle, then any straight line through the center
shall divide it into two equal parts. And this is the knowledge
required in a philosopher; that is to say, of him that pretends to
reasoning.
The register of knowledge of fact is called history, whereof there
be two sorts: one called natural history; which is the history of such
facts, or effects of Nature, as have no dependence on man's will; such
as are the histories of metals, plants, animals, regions, and the
like. The other is civil history, which is the history of the
voluntary actions of men in Commonwealths.
The registers of science are such books as contain the
demonstrations of consequences of one affirmation to another; and
are commonly called books of philosophy; whereof the sorts are many,
according to the diversity of the matter; and may be divided in such
manner as I have divided them in the following table.
I. SCIENCE, that is, knowledge of consequences; which is called
also PHILOSOPHY

A. Consequences from accidents of bodies natural; which is
called NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

1. Consequences from accidents common to all bodies natural;
which are quantity, and motion.

a. Consequences from quantity, and motion indeterminate;
which, being the principles or first foundation of
philosophy, is called philosophia prima

PHILOSOPHIA PRIMA

b. Consequences from motion, and quantity determined
1) Consequences from quantity, and motion determined
a) By figure, By number
1] Mathematics,

GEOMETRY
ARITHMETIC

2) Consequences from motion, and quantity of bodies in
special
a) Consequences from motion, and quantity of the
great parts of the world, as the earth and stars,
1] Cosmography

ASTRONOMY
GEOGRAPHY

b) Consequences from motion of special kinds, and
figures of body,
1] Mechanics, doctrine of weight

Science of ENGINEERS
ARCHITECTURE
NAVIGATION

2. PHYSICS, or consequences from qualities

a. Consequences from qualities of bodies transient, such
as sometimes appear, sometimes vanish

METEOROLOGY

b. Consequences from qualities of bodies permanent
1) Consequences from qualities of stars
a) Consequences from the light of the stars. Out of
this, and the motion of the sun, is made the
science of

SCIOGRAPHY

b) Consequences from the influence of the stars,

ASTROLOGY

2) Consequences of qualities from liquid bodies that
fill the space between the stars; such as are the
air, or substance etherial
3) Consequences from qualities of bodies terrestrial
a) Consequences from parts of the earth that are
without sense,
1] Consequences from qualities of minerals, as
stones, metals, etc.
2] Consequences from the qualities of vegetables
b) Consequences from qualities of animals
1] Consequences from qualities of animals in
general
a] Consequences from vision,

OPTICS

b] Consequences from sounds,

MUSIC

c] Consequences from the rest of the senses
2] Consequences from qualities of men in special
a] Consequences from passions of men,

ETHICS

b] Consequences from speech,
i) In magnifying, vilifying, etc.

POETRY

ii) In persuading,

RHETORIC

iii) In reasoning,

LOGIC

iv) In contracting,

The Science of JUST and UNJUST

B. Consequences from accidents of politic bodies; which is
called POLITICS, AND CIVIL PHILOSOPHY

1. Of consequences from the institution of COMMONWEALTHS, to
the rights, and duties of the body politic, or sovereign

2. Of consequences from the same, to the duty and right of
the subjects