Albertus Magnus Philosophia (1496 Incunable)

matter: it completely lacks possibility—or rather, "passivity"—just as the First Being The "First Being" refers to God, who in Aristotelian-Scholastic thought is "Pure Act" and contains no passive potential to change. does. In other things, however, "passions" In this context, "passions" refers to the ways an object is acted upon or its capacity to be changed. are diversified according to the diversity of their matter. Let these things said regarding the principles of natural philosophy suffice for the present.

Chapter 6: On the causes of natural things, what and how many they are

Consequently, we must consider the causes: what they are and how many there are in number. First, we must note the difference between a "principle" and a "cause." A principle is an intrinsic and essential [starting point] of a thing. A cause, however, extends to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, as will later become clear. In one way, therefore, according to Aristotle in the Physics:

matter

A cause is said to be "that from which something is made," provided that it remains within the thing—such as the bronze of a statue. The phrase "provided that it remains" is said to distinguish it from "privation" Privation is the absence of a quality (like "un-shaped-ness") that disappears when a thing is made, whereas the matter (bronze) stays., and this is the material cause. Note, however, that there is "matter from which" (as in a statue), "matter in which" (as the subject of accidents/qualities), and "matter about which" (regarding all potentiality).

form

In another way, a cause is called the form, the species, the paradigm, the act or perfection, and the "definition of what it was to be" original: "ratio ipsius quod aliquid erat esse" — a translation of Aristotle's Greek term for essence.—for example, the "fire-ness" of fire. This is the formal cause, or the defining logic. Note that in simple things—such as angels and the soul— the form that is the "act of matter" The animating force that makes matter live. and the "act of composition" The thing that makes the whole entity what it is. are the same. In composite things, however, they are not the same, as in a human: for the soul is the act of matter, but "Human" is the act of the composition.

efficient

In a third way, a cause is spoken of as the "principle of change" or of rest—such as one who deliberates a purpose, a father of a son, or any maker of a thing made. This is the efficient cause. Note that there are two types of efficient causes according to nature: intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic is like the active power of the seed in matter, which theologians call the seminal reason original: "ratio seminalis" — a concept of latent biological blueprints implanted by God.. The extrinsic is the power of the heavens according to Aristotle, because the movement of the sun causes generation. Note also that the "means" which lead to an end are reduced to the efficient cause, such as slenderness, purging, or medical instruments leading to health. All these things exist for the sake of the end.

See

final cause

In a fourth way, a cause is called "that for the sake of which" something is done, such as health is the cause of walking. This is the final cause, of which Aristotle says: that for the sake of which a thing is done is the most powerful cause, and it is the reason for the being of the others. Regarding these causes, note: the final cause moves the efficient cause, and the efficient cause moves the matter. Once the matter is moved, the form is introduced, as is evident with a craftsman. Because of this, the final cause is the most powerful of all.

Likewise, note that some things are causes of one another, but not in the same way: for example, laboring is the efficient cause of health, but health is not the efficient cause of laboring Health is the final cause (purpose) of laboring.. Likewise, it happens that the same thing is the cause of opposites: such as a sailor whose presence is the cause of the safety of his ship, while his absence is the cause of its danger or its capsizing. Likewise, note that causes are spoken of in many ways. Something is a cause of something by priority and something by posteriority: just as a doctor is the cause of health by priority, but the craftsman is the cause by posteriority. Likewise, something is a cause of something essentially original: "per se" and something accidentally original: "per accidens": just as the one making the statue is the cause of the statue essentially, but...