INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPOSITIONS OF PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is the love of wisdom, sure knowledge of the secrets of nature, the most appropriate imitation of Theology and the most sagacious investigator into everything that is.
And as its universal principles are fully included in this Art, they are fully sufficient for answering any particular question investigated by Philosophy. Thus, in order to view these principles in the best possible light each principle has three propositions and as in Theology, the propositions of the sixteen principles likewise total up to forty-eight. So let us now proceed in sequence, beginning with the first and noblest of the principles, namely the prime cause, as it precedes all the other principles.
 

THE PROPOSITIONS OF THE FIGURE OF PHILOSOPHY

The Prime Cause B.
1. The prime cause is the primordial source of the secondary nature of second causes.
2. The prime cause exists as a being prior to causality and secondary nature.
3. The prime cause has intrinsic perfection through form and shows its likeness outwardly through shape.

Movement C.
1. The movement of form proceeds within substance and influences the outward movement of shape.
2. Because the prime cause is form without any matter, whatever exists is moved by form.
3. All movement is either toward the end or against the end.

Intelligence D.
1. The being of angels is an act of essential memory, essential intellect and essential will.
2. Angels move in a time less way by remembering, understanding and loving.
3. Angels move the form of nature and form moves shape and matter in substantial beings.

Heaven E.
1. All the heavenly bodies can shed more influence than the earth can receive.
2. The Sun transmits its influence of virtue and light to universal mixtures before particular ones.
3. As the Sun transmits the influence of its light, it also transmits the influence of its virtue.

Universal Form F.
1. The essence of universal form consists of many simple forms.
2. Many forms stand beneath universal form and are potentials of it.
3. All particular forms in nature are regulated by universal form.

Prime Matter G.
1. The rule of nature cannot be found in prime matter without universal form.
2. The essence of prime matter is an aggregate of the simple passive parts of essential fire, essential air, essential water and essential earth.
3. Prime matter is an aggregate of simple passive parts and transmits its influence to secondary matter which has compound passive parts.

Nature H.
1. Nature is a common being, an aggregate of universal form and prime matter, and many particular beings are included in it.
2. Nature influences substantial forms through accidental forms to produce substance.
3. Nature cannot act without the universal and the particular.

Elements I.
1. Elements are simple powers of nature with which composition is produced in substantial beings.
2. Elements produce their likenesses in elemented things.
3. A simple element is a primary act and a compound element is a secondary act.

Appetite K.
1. The first natural appetite is the appetite for being and the second is for the likeness of being.
2. All created being naturally seeks out uncreated being through likeness.
3. Appetite and need are at odds with each other.

Potentiality L.
1. The potential producing an act is not the same as the potential from which the act is produced.
2. Potentiality is a being in which nature conserves its capacity.
3. The further potentiality is from habit, the closer it is to naught.

Habit M.
1. Habit is diversified through reality and reason.
2. The habit of form exists within operation, and the habit of shape is outside.
3. Habit is a medium existing between potentiality and actuality.

Actuality N.
1. No primary act is repugnant to its own secondary act.
2. The act within substance is not the same as the one outside.
3. The act that is within substance proceeds through form and the act that is outside proceeds through matter.

Mixture O.
1. Universal mixture is the one which exists outside the individuals of species.
2. Mixture within substantial beings proceeds through form and mixture outside substantial beings proceeds through matter.
3. All mixture consists of either essential or integral parts.

Digestion P.
1. Digestion is the transmutation of the virtue of essence into being, then from being into powers and from powers into actuality.
2. All digestion proceeds from essential parts into integral parts.
3. All digestion finds concordance through form and contrariety through matter.

Composition Q.
1. Universal composition is the body of nature encompassing many particular compositions.
2. Composition is not produced by accident, but operation is.
3. The ultimate composition is the one in which all parts exist within each other.

Alteration R.
1. Alteration is a medium between being and privation.
2. Alteration is an accidental process and substance is its subject.
3. All alteration proceeds between a beginning and an end.