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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Chapter 6: Rainwater as a Subject

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German & Latin Page · Branch 187 of 411

Part II — Chapter 6: Rainwater as a Subject

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German & Latin

127

Derowegen / und weil (wie auch sonsten 3. die Sophisten sprechen) die Philosophi ja so gar nicht eine (s. h.) Mucken / oder das geringste Kräutlein zu schaffen vermöchten; Ergò, so könten sie noch weniger Gold schaffen / oder machen &c.

Ingleichem und (4.) empechirt nichts / was mir auch von einem andern guten Freund / juxta canonem, quælibet causa nobilior effectu &c. vorgeworffen worden: Sintemahln das Gold gleichsam das edelste Ding sey / als könte dasselbe auß dem Wasser nicht entspringen / noch gemacht werden &c. Der jedoch hingegen wehnen wollen / daß es wegen dessen schwere vielmehr auß der Erden (weder auß dem Wasser) herkomme.

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Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Chapter 6: Rainwater as a Subject

127

Hence comes the third objection, also voiced by the sophists: since the philosophers cannot create even a fly—if I may mention such a thing—or the smallest little plant, they are still less able to create or make gold.

The fourth objection, raised by another good friend, is equally no impediment. He appealed to the rule that every cause is nobler than its effect. Since gold is supposedly the noblest thing, he argued, it could neither arise nor be made from water. Yet he wished instead to derive it from earth rather than water, because of its weight.

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About This Reading Edition

An anonymous Hermetic treatise of 1680, presented in its original German and Latin with a new English translation, 279 explanatory notes, the historical phoenix frontispiece, an introduction, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and original registers.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Candida Phoenix philosophica. Frankfurt am Main: Christian Hermsdorff, 1680. The chosen witness is the Wellcome Library copy digitized as b32993456; German and Latin, with French, Greek, and Hebrew passages retained.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The 1680 source is identified as public domain by the Wellcome/Internet Archive record. The supplied 2026 transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. The frontispiece is retained from the supplied edition and credited to its historical witness.