Physiologus: On the Natures of Twelve Animals

Since, according to Plato, nothing has arisen under the sun whose legitimate cause did not precede it; and according to Aristotle in the prologue of the Metaphysics, only those truly teach who teach through causes and principles; therefore, something must be said regarding the "causes" of the knowledge contained in this book before we proceed to the third part The "third part" likely refers to the main body of the poem following this formal introduction..

¶ It must be noted, therefore, that there are four causes for the knowledge in this book: namely, the material, formal, efficient, and final causes.

The material cause, or the subject matter, is the nature of twelve animals: namely, the Lion, the Eagle, the Serpent, and so on for the others, as will be made clear in the progress of this book.

The formal cause here is twofold, as is common elsewhere: namely, the "form of the treatise" and the "form of treating" the subject. The form of the treatise consists in the division and distinction of this book. The form of treating is the manner of proceeding used in this book, which is metrical original: "metricus"; meaning the book is written in verse or poetry rather than prose..

The efficient cause The "efficient cause" refers to the author or creator of the work. of the knowledge of this book is said to have been Master Theobald, doctor and bishop, who composed this book in simple words, not wishing to be puffed up or exalted through obscure language.

The final cause is the utility The practical benefit or "usefulness". of the book. Hence, the utility of the book is that, having read through it, we may learn to love virtues, to flee vices, and to cling to good character. Specifically, the cardinal and principal virtues, which are: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. The vices we should flee are: pride, greed, gluttony, lust, and others which are signified by the animals.

Or, the utility of this book is that, having read through it, we may know that Christ is designated by the nature of the lion, and the devil by the nature of the fox, and so on for each animal in its own way.

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Also, note that this present knowledge is classified under two branches of philosophy, depending on how it is considered. Inasmuch as it considers or treats the natures of animals, it is classified under natural philosophy The medieval equivalent of biology and the physical sciences., because "the Philosopher" Aristotle. treats the natures of animals in his works on natural philosophy. But inasmuch as it considers or treats the fleeing of vices and the imitation of virtues, it is classified under moral philosophy Ethics..

Also, note that the intention of the author is, in one way, to teach the natures of twelve animals so that, once they are known and understood, we may approach the Divine Page original: "divinam paginam"; a common medieval term for the Bible or Holy Scripture. more securely.

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In another way, the intention of the author is to describe the natures of the twelve animals and to draw out the allegories original: "figuras"; the symbolic or spiritual meanings behind the physical traits. of those natures. In a third way, the author’s intention is to draw Christians away from vices in this book and toward virtues—principally to those four: namely justice, temperance, fortitude, and prudence, which, as was shown before, are called the four cardinal virtues.

Also, note that the title of this book is this: Here begins the Physiologus of Bishop Theobald, treating the natures of twelve animals. And it is called Physiologus from physis in Greek, which is "nature" in Latin, and olon holos meaning "whole," and logos meaning "discourse"—as if to say, a discourse on the whole of nature.