PREFACE.

...or into the first finite original: "finite"—Swedenborg's term for the first substantive thing produced from the "simple" point, a similar cause must be derived. Since the world draws its origin and subsequent growth through a connected and continuous series—starting from a first or single purpose, moving through middle stages, toward another end—and since an efficient and active cause must be present before anything can be produced in a series, it follows that there must be a passive principle, an active principle, and a compound or elementary produced from both.

If any compound thing exists, it must consist of two principles: the passive and the active. Without these, nature herself would be as if in a state of celibacy or solitude, childless and without any new productive force. Consequently, there would be no result, no series, no phenomena—in short, no worlds.

With this view of the subject, I have tried to show that in the Finite (which is the first thing derived from the Simple) both the passive and active principles are contained. From these, through the addition of a physical original: "contingent"—something that happens by chance or depends on other conditions cause, the Composite or Elementary arose. Furthermore, in every derivative thing—whether it is a Finite, an Active, or an Elementary—a similar cause always exists at the same time. Consequently, there is a similar power of producing an effect, moving from one entity into another.

This process moves from one power to another, from one degree to another, and so on. Therefore, a principle similar to the one in the "primitives" original: "primitives"—the original, basic units of matter is hidden within the derivatives; a principle similar to the one in "simples" original: "simples"—indivisible building blocks of reality exists in composites; and a principle similar to the one in causes exists in effects. As a result, in the various kingdoms of nature—especially the elementary kingdom—nature exists in the cause and the effect simultaneously.

Thus, using the well-known principles of mechanics, guided by geometry and the ability to reason analytically, we can safely draw conclusions. Starting from a visible effect that comes later, we can understand not only invisible effects that came before, but also the very entities that are active and passive—and indeed, the very cause that is hidden within all things.

Let us then, in a few words, present the sum and substance of our philosophy; and in so doing, begin from the first Simple.

1. We observe then, that in a Simple there is an internal state tending toward a spiral motion, and consequently that there...