550. Pliny’s Natural History, Loeb ed., vol 1- Summary

550.  Pliny’s Natural History, Loeb ed., vol 1.  There are two Pliny’s.  One is named Pliny the Younger and the other Pliny the Elder.  The Elder was uncle to the Younger.  Pliny the Elder was active in service to the Roman Empire and was charged with important positions throughout his life. At the time of his death at the eruption of Mt Vesuvius he was admiral of the fleet stationed at Misenum.  He was to say the least devoted to learning.  In fact his fascination with the universe caused him to write the world’s first encyclopedia.  Pretty impressive.  He dedicated his work to Titus, the son of Vespasian.  In book one he lists his sources.  He is to be praised for this.  Not only does he preserve for us titles/authors who would other wise be unknown but also he does not try to give the impression that he discovered all of these things on his own. 

Just a diversion here.  In modern scholarship the Romans are often poopooed for lack of originality ( not true).  Whereas the ancient Greeks are dotted on for their great learning (which is true) BUT fail to note that the Greeks were often remiss in citing their sources.  Archeology has shown that the Greeks copied from other cultures extensively.  Oh, well.  Back to the subject. 

His goal in his Natural History was to encompass all nature and come to an understanding of it.  He took on a huge task to say the least.  So it should come as no surprise that he defines life as being awake.  He discusses the universe at large, religion and gives an extensive description of the world and the sky.  He says that mortals are nearest to God when aiding another mortal.  To seek the form of God is silly.  And to presume that there are countless gods is silly too.  He cautions against putting too much credence into Fortune.  Humans are imperfect but are God’s closest kin here on earth.  Thus we have a responsibility to act better than beasts.  Not even with God are all things possible for He can not commit suicide.  Pliny is an interesting thinker.  He says that Nature is God/God is nature.  Yet he realizes that God can not override facts of Nature.  There is a contradiction here.  But I suspect that Pliny viewed this as one more facet of Nature which is inexplicable. 

He discusses the value of science which has uncovered length of days, years, diameter of earth, the earth’s shape etc.  This kind of knowledge has helped to remove ignorance and therefore fear.  Here is a good time to point out that Pliny does not favor any investigation just for shear investigation.  It must relate to human experience at large and be of service to humanity.  Sounds to me as though every scientist should read Pliny for such views,. 

He has much to offer.  He records that Posidonius measured the distance from the earth to the moon.  He is pretty close.  He condemns the mining of gems because the motivation is that of greed.  At another place he discusses why we do not fall off of the earth  Shortly after this he discusses why is it so absurd to fight on a planet so small.  Such comments seem incongruent with the matter at hand.  But his view of life and investigation is very close to that of the Peripatetics and the Stoics-  to understand human nature one must come to understand  humans and their place in the nexus of the universe- such a view means that one must spend many a night burning the midnight oil.  He discusses eclipses.  He knew about the night/day of six months at the north pole.  After discussing strange volcanoes etc. he remarks:  But who would be surprised at these things?  Nature is a mystery.  This makes life intriguing.