[BNP/E3, 15⁴ – 92]

If we be not allowed to stop when striving to conceive matter and must allow its eternity, then we are also forced to allow (by the same process of reason) its infinite divisibility. Now if matter be infinitely divisible each of the parts is either zero or something. If it be something, everything is infinite for anything multiplied by infinity is infinity. If it be zero, nothing exists for anything, even infinity, multiplied by zero is equal to zero.

Counter-argument: Any infinitely divisible thing cannot logically have as quotient either zero or something. Zero is evidently impossible. Something is as impossible, for the moment infinite divisibility is fixed, it is again infinitely divisible and so on. So we see that if anything be infinitely divisible, each of its parts must be infinite.

Answer: Quite so. But an infinity of infinities is infinite. Therefore everything is infinite. But that which divides something less itself is zero.

Perhaps: {…}

(Therefore: nothing is infinitely divisible.)

[92^v]

peripatetic

peripatetic

Charles Robert Anon.

Yours very truly

C. R. Anon.

C. R. Anon.

C. R. Anon.

inattentive

there are many things which I showed

Charles Robert Anon.

Ch. R. Anon

Ch. R. Anon.

Ch. R. Anon.

Ch. Ch. R. Anon

Martin Kennas

Martin

Martin