Aristotle - index for METAPHYSICA Book 8 Part 4

Cause and substance

Paragraph 1 Regarding material substance we must not forget that even if all things come from the same first cause or have the same things for their first causes, and if the same matter serves as starting-point for their generation, yet there is a matter proper to each, e.g. for phlegm the sweet or the fat, and for bile the bitter, or something else;

Paragraph 2 When one inquires into the cause of something, one should, since 'causes' are spoken of in several senses, state all the possible causes.

Paragraph 3 Regarding the substances that are natural and generable, if the causes are really these and of this number and we have to learn the causes, we must inquire thus, if we are to inquire rightly.

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created 1996/11/25 modified 2009/04/26


Paragraph 1	Regarding material substance we must not forget that even if all things come from the same first cause or have the same things for their first causes, and if the same matter serves as starting-point for their generation, yet there is a matter proper to each, e.g. for phlegm the sweet or the fat, and for bile the bitter, or something else;
Paragraph 2	When one inquires into the cause of something, one should, since 'causes' are spoken of in several senses, state all the possible causes.
Paragraph 3	Regarding the substances that are natural and generable, if the causes are really these and of this number and we have to learn the causes, we must inquire thus, if we are to inquire rightly.