2 Oct. 1814 C

Logic

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Ch.2. Ontology

Entities classed

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Material, formal, efficient, final - by these in the language of the Aristotelian schools - by these even in the higher forms of common language so many different species of causes are considered as designated.

Neither incapable of being applied to practice - nor of being ever applied with advantage, these distinctions present, in this place, a just claim to notice. The relation they bear to the foregoing expositions, will now be brought to view.

Matter and form - both these, it has been seen, are necessary to existence, meaning to real and that physical existence to the existence of a physical body.

1. By material cause is indicated the matter of the body in question, considered in so far as it is regarded as contributing to the production of the effect in question.

2. By formal cause, the form of the same body.

3. By efficient cause must be understood, in so far as any clear and distinct idea is attached to the term, the matter of some body or bodies: what is meant to be distinguished by it may, in general, be supposed to be the motion of that body, or assemblage of bodies, which is regarded as the principal motion, - the motion which has the principal share in the production of the effect.

But to the production of the effect - meaning a physical effect - whatsoever it be, a correspondent and suitable disposition of the circumjacent non-moving bodies is not (it has been seen) less necessary than a correspondent and suitable motion, or aggregate of motions, on the part of the moving body.

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