LXIII. But have the moderns who exclaim so much against Aristotle, hit
upon the truth? By no means. They have reasoned more boldly, but not with
better success. They tell us, that the texture, collocation, figure, and
motion of the particles, produce all the operations of nature, without
the necessity of having recourse for this purpose, to accidental or
substantial forms; but by saying this, they expose themselves to the
same fault which they reprehend in the Aristotelites, which is that of
speaking too generally; for as these last, do not explain or define, of
what the substantial form consists which distinguishes one entity from
another, neither do the others determine, the texture, co-ordination,
and figure of the particles which appertain, and are proper to each
composition; in consequence of which, they all involve themselves in
innumerable difficulties, which they reciprocally object against each
other. The Cartesian system appears chimerical to the Gassendists, and
the Maignanists; and these two last parties, although they agree in
assigning the Atoms as the principles, and elements of all material
things, oppose one another in various particulars, it being a principle
with the Maignanists, that the Atoms are different in species, and with
the Gassendists, that they differ only in figure; all of which systems,
are exposed to be combated by arguments that are terribly strong.