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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Chapter 13: The Controversy Over Light

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German & Latin Page · Branch 331 of 411

Part II — Chapter 13: The Controversy Over Light

German & Latin

212–213

Major est ipsa V. R. Propositio. Minor non per prædicta solùm, sed hoc ipso etiam est probata, quoniam V. R. nihil probavit, cum semper tamen affirmanti incumbat probatio: Nam 1. V. R. prætendit Lucem vel in igne, vel in Sole & Stellis, vel alio quovis corpore consistere. 2. Opponit, Lucem non esse Substantiam quia nec corporea, nec incorporea. 3. Ad declarationem mentis suæ, vel dilucidationis loco dicit, lucem propriam & naturalem intelligendam esse, quam statuit vel 1. extraordinariam, vel 2. ordinariam, ut amplius habent literæ. Quæ omnia nihil probant, cum probationes debeant esse concludentes.

212–213

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Chapter 13: The Controversy Over Light

212–213

The major premise is your own proposition. The minor is proved not only by what has been said, but also by the fact that you have proved nothing, although the burden of proof always rests on the person making the assertion. First, you claim that light exists in fire, in the sun and stars, or in some other body. Second, you object that light is not a substance because it is neither corporeal nor incorporeal. Third, by way of explaining or clarifying your meaning, you say that light in its proper and natural sense is intended, and divide it into extraordinary and ordinary light, as your letter sets out at greater length. None of this proves anything, since proofs must be conclusive.

212–213

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.