On these pages are diagrams and mathematical notes relating to the forces and distribution of weight.

This notebook is not a bound volume used by Leonardo, but was put together after his death from loose papers of various types and sizes. The first section was begun at Florence on 22 March 1508, but the remainder comes from different periods in Leonardo's life (1452-1519), covering practically the whole of his career. Leonardo's first intention seems to have been to gather material for a treatise on mechanics, although his relentless curiosity led him into numerous other topics from the movement of water to the flight of birds. The text is written in Italian, and in Leonardo's characteristic 'mirror-writing', left-handed and moving from right to left.

This manuscript, frequently referred to as 'The Codex Arundel', was probably acquired in Italy and in 1681 it was presented to the Royal Society by Henry Howard (his grandson) and transferred to the British Museum in 1831.

-        Neolithic societies:  had a “conventional” structured system of action (motives assessed independently of concrete action consequences, but “preconventional” (pre-operative) patterns of resolving moral conflicts still existed (subjects’ actions seen on a single plane of reality –only the consequences of action evaluated).  Legal regulation based on consequences, compensation and restoration of status quo.  Mythological “world view” enmeshed with system of action. 

-        Early civilizations:  Conventional system of action but the mythological world view is now set off from the system of action, which takes on a legitimating function for the figure of authority.  Conventional morality tied to a ruler who administers justice (transition here from retaliation to punishment, joint liability to individual liability).

-        Developed civilizations:  Conventionally structured system of action, break with mythological thought and development of rationalized world view (with postconventional/postoperative (justification from universalistic points of view) legal and moral representations.  Conventional morality detached from reference person of the ruler (developed system of administering justice, tradition-dependent but systemized law.) 

-        Modern age:  Postconventionally structured domains of action – differentiation of a universalistically regulated domain of strategic action (capitalist enterprise, bourgeois civil law), approaches to a political will-formation grounded in principles (formal democracy); doctrines of legitimation (rational natural law) and strict separation of legality and morality; private morality guided by principles.  (157-158). 

Are we seeing the development of literature loosely along these lines?  (not exactly corresponding to the historical dates.)   Would the writings of Homer and Sophocles be "preconventional" in that they still considered Fate as a factor in the protagonists' lives?

Would the end of the Dark Ages see a heroic code of ethics strengthening the hero's chances, by creating a framework for moral principles?

Would the Enlightenment to the Modern Age see a change in how we view ourselves in terms of self-actualization?

Where is Postmodernism headed?  How does Shakespeare fit into the scheme?  (so much for systems - again!)