And FIRST, I
shall observe that the MINIMUM VISIBILE is exactly equal in all beings
whatsoever that are endowed with the visive faculty. No exquisite
formation of the eye, no peculiar sharpness of sight, can make it less in
one creature than in another; for it not being distinguishable into
parts, nor in any wise a consisting of them, it must necessarily be the
same to all. For suppose it otherwise, and that the MINIMUM VISIBILE of a
mite, for instance, be less than the MINIMUM VISIBILE of a man: the
latter therefore may by detraction of some part be made equal to the
former: it doth therefore consist of parts, which is inconsistent with
the notion of a MINIMUM VISIBILE or point.
81. It will perhaps be objected that the MINIMUM VISIBILE of a man doth
really and in itself contain parts whereby it surpasses that of a mite,
though they are not perceivable by the man. To which I answer, the
MINIMUM VISIBILE having (in like manner as all other the proper and
immediate objects of sight) been shown not to have any existence without
the mind of him who sees it, it follows there cannot be any pan of it
that is not actually perceived, and therefore visible. Now for any object
to contain distinct visible parts, and at the same time to be a MINIMUM
VISIBILE, is a manifest contradiction.
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