1211

On spirits.

O mathematicians shed light on this error.

The spirit has no voice, because where there is a voice there is a body, and where there is a body space is occupied, and this prevents the eye from seeing what is placed behind that space; hence the surrounding air is filled by the body, that is by its image.

Taken from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci edited by Jean Paul Richter, 1880.

Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci
XIX: Philosophical Maxims. Morals. Polemics and Speculations.
. . .
1191,
1192,
1193,
1194,
1195,
1196,
1197,
1198,
1199,
1200,
1201,
1202
Politics.
1203,
1204
Against Speculators.
1205,
1206
Against alchemists.
1207,
1208
Against friars.
1209
Against writers of epitomes.
1210
On spirits.
1211,
1212,
1213,
1214,
1215
Nonentity.
1216
Reflections on Nature.
1217,
1218,
1219