The Book of Causes

XVII

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Albert the Great 241. His work On the Causes and the Process of the Universe Latin: "de causis et processu uniuersitatis" 242. Content of the first book 242. The second book is a continuous adaptation of our book referring to "The Book of Causes" 243. In the latter, Albert perceives a reliable interpreter of the teachings of the Peripatetic school The followers of Aristotle 244, and through his interpretation of it, he believes he has finally brought his adaptation of Aristotelian metaphysics to a full conclusion 246. Time of the composition of this commentary 246. Reason and occasion 247. Detailed characteristics of the same: Albert silently corrects individual translation errors 247. The interpretation of the word helyatin A transliterated term from the Arabic original, usually referring to "prime matter" or "hyle" (§ 8) 247. The interpretation of the word achili or alachili Transliterated from the Arabic "al-’aqli," meaning "intellect" or "the intellectual" (§ 4, § 11) 248. Albert frequently allows elements of Christian truth to flow into the exposition of our book’s doctrine 250. — Other writings of Albert: On the Nature and Origin of the Soul Latin: "De natura et origine animae" 251. Against the Errors of Averroes Latin: "Contra errores Auerrois" 251. The Philosophy of the Poor Latin: "Philosophia pauperum" 253. The Summary of Theology Latin: "Summa theologiae" 253. — Pseudo-Albert, On Apprehension Latin: "De adprehensione" 255.

Thomas von Aquinas 256. His treatise On Being and Essence Latin: "de ente et essentia" 257. His commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard 260. The Questions on Power Latin: "Quaestiones de potentia" 261. The Questions on Truth Latin: "Quaestiones de ueritate" 265. The Summary Against the Gentiles Latin: "Summa contra Gentiles" 267. The commentary on our book: Thomas knows the origin of the book 270. The Elements of Theology original Greek: "στοιχείωσις" (stoicheiosis). This refers to the work by the Neoplatonist Proclus, which Thomas recognized as the true source of "The Book of Causes." is available to him in the translation of William of Moerbeke 271. Time of the composition of the commentary 272. Reason and occasion 272. Detailed characteristics of the same: The commentator’s primary task is the investigation and exposition of the author’s doctrine 273. The Elements referring to the "elementatio" or the "Elements of Theology" by Proclus provides important service 273. The interpretation of the word helyatin 273. Correction of erroneous interpretations of our book 274. Thomas combines a critique of the author’s doctrine with its clarification 274. Otherwise, he seeks to accord the book as rich a content of truth as possible 275. The Summary of Theology Latin: "Summa theologica" 275.

John Duns Scotus 279. His Disputed Questions on the Principle of Things Latin: "Quaestiones disputatae de rerum principio" 280. (His Theorems Latin: "Theoremata" 284.)

The Thomists Giles of Lessines and Bernard of Trilia 285. The former’s treatise On the Unity of Form Latin: "de unitate formae" 286. The latter’s Questions on the Soul's Knowledge while Joined to the Body Latin: "Quaestiones de cognitione animae coniunctae corpori" 286.

Peter of Auvergne 288. A manuscript of the Imperial and Royal Court Library in Vienna contains questions on our book under the name Petrus de Aluernia and similar questions under the name Avicenna. Just as the latter must certainly be labeled as inauthentic, there is little reason to doubt the authenticity of the former 289.

At roughly the same time as Peter of Auvergne, Giles of Rome adapted our book 290. His commentary exists in print 290. Comparison of the same with the interpretations of Albert and Thomas 291. Giles knows and uses the Elements of Theology Greek: "στοιχείωσις" (stoicheiosis) 291. A sample of the circumstantiality and wordiness of his interpretation 292.

Dante Alighieri makes use of our book in his writing On Monarchy Latin: "de monarchia" 294.

Echoes of our book in the writings of the German Mystics; in Master Eckhart 296, in two anonymous authors 297.