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<!DOCTYPE html>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<title>Thomas Aquinas: Commentary on Aristotle's Generation and Corruption: English</title>
<body style="text-align:justify;font-family:Arial">
<blockquote>
<center>
<h2 style="color:blue">In librum Aristotelis<br>
De generatione et corruptione expositio<br>
<br>
COMMENTARY ON<br>
ARISTOTLE'S<br>
GENERATION AND CORRUPTION</h2>
<p>by
<h3 style="color:red">Thomas Aquinas</h3>
<h3>tr. by Pierre Conway & R.F. Larcher</h3>
<hr>
<p>CONTENTS
</center>
<h3>BOOK I</h3>
<ol>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#0">Prologue by Thomas Aquinas 1</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#1">Aristotle's Preface: Various previous opinions on the difference between generation and alteration</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2">The basic reason for these differing opinions on generation and alteration</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#3">What must be treated. Opinions of Democritus and Leucippus</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#4">Democritus' argument that natural bodies are composed of indivisible bodies</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#5">Resolution of Democritus' argument</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#6">Does simple generation exist. Problem and solution</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#7">The cause on the part of matter why generation never fails</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#8">Why in mutual generation and corruption there is sometimes absolute generation and qualified corruption</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#9">The cause of the difference between absolute and qualified generation in things not mutually generated</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#10">The difference between generation and alteration</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#11">Growth differs from generation and alteration both as to subject and to manner</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#12">The subject of growth is not something incorporeal or lacking size</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#13">Matter, even as conceived by Platonists, cannot lack size and be the subject of growth</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#14">Problems on the nature of that by which something grows</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#15">Solution of the difficulty proposed in the previous lecture</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#16">How growth takes place. Its difference from generation</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#17">Comparison of growth to food. How diminution occurs</a><br>
Continuation by an unknown author:
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#18">De mixtura, de agere et pati, de tactu</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#19">Opiniones circa habitudinem mutuam agentis et patientis</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#20">Diversitas agentium</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#21">Opiniones de modo quo perficitur agere et pati in corporibus</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#22">Opiniones praedictae reprobantur</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#23">Sub quibus conditionibus contingit agere et pati</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#24">Quomodo mixtio differat a generation, alteratione et augmento</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#25">Opiniones de modo mixtionis refutantur</a>
</ol><a href="GenCorrup.htm#25">
<h3>BOOK II</h3></a>
<ol>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#25"></a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#25"></a> <a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.1">Refutantur falsae opiniones de materia elementorum</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.2">Qualia sint prima principia formalia elementorum</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.3">Quatuor esse elementa probatur</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.4">Omnia elementa nata sunt ex se invicem generari</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.5">Subiectum transmutationis elementorum non est aliquod corpus</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.6">De transmutatione elementorum adinvicem</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.7">Refutatur opinio Empedoclis de transmutatione elementorum</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.8">Quomodo fit mixtum ex elementis</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.9">Praeter causam materialem et formalem generabilium requiritur tertia</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.10">Quae sit causa efficiens generationis et corruptionis perpetuae</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.11">Utrum quaedam generentur ex necessitate</a>
<li>
<a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.12">Qualis generatio secundum Philosophum sit perpetua</a>
</ol><a href="GenCorrup.htm#2.12">
<hr>
Prooemium<br>
PROLOGUE OF SAINT THOMAS<br>
Subject matter of this book</a> <a name="0" id="0"></a>
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<td>Sicut tradit philosophus in III de anima, scientiae secantur quemadmodum et res: nam omnes habitus distinguuntur per obiecta, ex quibus speciem habent. Res autem quas considerat naturalis, sunt motus et mobile: dicit enim philosophus in II Physic. quod quaecumque mota movent, sunt physicae speculationis. Et ideo oportet quod secundum differentiam motuum et mobilium, distinguantur et ordinentur partes scientiae naturalis.
<td>1. As the Philosopher says in <i>On the Soul</i> III, the sciences are divided off in the same manner as things are — for all habits are distinguished by their objects, from which they are specified. Now the things considered by Natural Science are motion and mobile being. Thus the Philosopher says in <i>Physics</i> II that whatever things move, they themselves being moved, these belong to physical speculation. Consequently, it is according to the differences between motions and mobiles that the parts of natural science must be distinguished and ordered.
<tr style="text-align:justify" valign="top">
<td>Primus autem motuum est motus localis, qui est perfectior ceteris, et communis omnibus corporibus naturalibus, ut probatur in VIII Physic. Et ideo post considerationem motuum et mobilium in communi, quae fuit tradita in libro physicorum, primo oportuit quod tractaretur de corporibus secundum quod moventur motu locali, in libro de caelo; quae est secunda pars scientiae naturalis. Restat igitur consideratio de motibus aliis consequentibus, qui non sunt communes omnibus corporibus, sed inveniuntur in solis inferioribus.
<td>Now the first motion is local motion, which is more perfect than the other kinds, and common to all natural bodies, as is proved in <i>Physics</i> VII. Therefore, after the study of motions and mobiles in common in the book of the <i>Physics</i>, it was first necessary to treat of bodies as they are moved with local motion. This was in the book <i>On the Heavens</i>, which is the second book of natural science. What remains, therefore, is to consider the other subsequent motions which are not common to all bodies but are found only in lower bodies.
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<td>Inter quos principatum obtinet generatio et corruptio. Alteratio enim ordinatur ad generationem sicut ad finem, qui est perfectior naturaliter his quae sunt ad finem. Augmentum etiam consequenter se habet ad generationem: nam augmentum non fit sine quadam particulari generatione, qua scilicet nutrimentum convertitur in nutritum; sicut philosophus dicit in II de anima quod cibus nutrit inquantum est potentia caro, augmentat autem inquantum est potentia quanta caro. Et ideo necesse est, quia hi motus quodammodo consequenter se habent ad generationem, quod simul de his et de generatione et corruptione tractetur.
<td>Among these motions, generation and corruption obtain the primacy. For alteration is directed to generation as to its end, and the end is by nature more perfect than what leads to it. Growth, likewise, is subsequent to generation, for growth does not take place without a certain particular generation, namely, that by which food is converted into the thing fed. Thus the Philosopher says in <i>On the Soul</i> II that food nourishes in so far as it is potentially flesh, but it produces increase inasmuch as potentially it is quantified flesh. Therefore, since these motions are in a certain way consequent upon generation, they must be studied along with generation and corruption.
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<td>Est autem considerandum quod de unoquoque quod in pluribus invenitur, prius est considerandum in communi, quam ad species descendere: alioquin oporteret idem dicere multoties, ita scilicet quod in singulis id quod est commune repeteretur, sicut probat philosophus in I de partibus animalium. Et ideo prius oportuit de generatione et corruptione in communi determinare, quam ad partes eius descendere. Similiter etiam considerare oportet quod, si in aliquo genere aliquod primum invenitur quod sit causa aliorum, eiusdem considerationis est commune genus et id quod est primum in genere illo: quia illud primum est causa totius generis, oportet autem eum qui considerat genus aliquod, causas totius generis considerare. Et inde est quod philosophus in metaphysica simul determinat de ente in communi et de ente primo, quod est a materia separatum. Sunt autem in genere generabilium et corruptibilium quaedam prima principia, scilicet elementa, quae sunt causa generationis et corruptionis et alterationis in omnibus aliis corporibus. Et inde est quod Aristoteles in hoc libro, qui est tertia pars scientiae naturalis, determinat non solum de generatione et corruptione in communi et aliis motibus consequentibus, sed etiam de generatione et corruptione elementorum.
<td>2. Now it should be noted that whatever is found in a number of things should first be considered in common before coming to the specific cases. Otherwise the same thing will be frequently repeated, in that what is common will be repeated in each individual case, as the Philosopher proves in <i>On the Parts of Animals</i> I. Consequently, generation and corruption should be considered in common before coming to the parts [i.e., species] thereof. Likewise, it should be noted that if in any genus there be found some first thing which is the cause of the other things in that genus, the study of the common genus and of that which is first in that genus will belong to the same study. For that first thing is the cause of the entire genus, and anyone who studies some genus must consider the causes of the entire genus. That is why the Philosopher in the <i>Metaphysics</i> at once studies being in general and first being, which is separated from matter. Now in the genus of generable and corruptible things there are found certain first principles, namely, the elements, which are the cause of generation and corruption and alteration in all other bodies. Hence Aristotle in this book, which is the third part of natural science, discusses not only generation and corruption in general and other consequent motions, but also generation and corruption of the elements.
<tr style="text-align:justify" valign="top">
<td>His igitur praelibatis ad demonstrandum intentionem Aristotelis in hoc libro, accedendum est ad expositionem eius.
<td>With these prefatory remarks to show Aristotle's intention in this book, we now arrive at its exposition.
</table>
<hr>
<blockquote>
Α<br>
BOOK ONE <a name="1" id="1"></a>
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<h1 style="color:red">ΑΡΙΣΤΟΤΗΛΟΥΣ<br>
ΠΕΡΙ ΓΕΝΕΣΕΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΘΟΡΑΣ</h1>
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<td colspan="2">
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<td colspan="2"><b>Lecture 1<br>
Aristotle's Preface Various previous opinions on the difference between generation and alteration.</b>
<tr style="text-align:center">
<td colspan="2"><b>Chapter 1</b>
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<td style="font-family: palatino">(314a.) Περὶ δὲ γενέσεως καὶ φθορᾶς τῶν φύσει γενομένων καὶ φθειρομένων, ὁμοίως κατὰ πάντων, τάς τε αἰτίας διαιρετέον καὶ τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν,
<td>1 OUR next task is to study coming-to-be and passing-away. We are to distinguish the causes, and to state the definitions, of these processes considered in general—as changes predicable uniformly of all the things that come-to-be and pass-away by nature.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">ἔτι δὲ περὶ αὐξήσεως καὶ ἀλλοιώσεως, τί ἑκάτερον,
<td>2 Further, we are to study growth and 'alteration'. We must inquire what each of them is;
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<td style="font-family: palatino">καὶ πότερον τὴν αὐτὴν ὑποληπτέον φύσιν εἶναι ἀλλοιώσεως καὶ γενέσεως, ἢ χωρίς, ὥσπερ διώρισται καὶ τοῖς ὀνόμασιν.
<td>3 and whether 'alteration' is to be identified with coming-to-be, or whether to these different names there correspond two separate processes with distinct natures.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Τῶν μὲν οὖν ἀρχαίων οἱ μὲν τὴν καλουμένην ἁπλῆν γένεσιν ἀλλοίωσιν εἶναί φασιν, οἱ δ' ἕτεροι ἀλλοίωσιν καὶ γένεσιν.
<td>4 On this question, indeed, the early philosophers are divided. Some of them assert that the so-called 'unqualified coming-to-be' is 'alteration', while others maintain that 'alteration' and coming-to-be are distinct.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ὅσοι μὲν γὰρ ἕν τι τὸ πᾶν λέγουσιν εἶναι καὶ πάντα ἐξ ἑνὸς γεννῶσι, τούτοις μὲν ἀνάγκη τὴν γένεσιν ἀλλοίωσιν φάναι καὶ τὸ κυρίως γινόμενον ἀλλοιοῦσθαι.
<td>5 For those who say that the universe is one something (i.e. those who generate all things out of one thing) are bound to assert that coming-to-be is 'alteration', and that whatever 'comes-to-be' in the proper sense of the term is 'being altered'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ὅσοι δὲ πλείω τὴν ὕλην ἑνὸς τιθέασιν, οἷον Ἐμπεδοκλῆς καὶ Ἀναξαγόρας καὶ Λεύκιππος, τούτοις δὲ ἕτερον.
<td>6 But those who make the matter of things more than one must distinguish coming-to-be from 'alteration'. To this latter class belong Empedocles, Anaxagoras, and Leucippus.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Καίτοι Ἀναξαγόρας γε τὴν οἰκείαν φωνὴν ἠγνόησεν· λέγει γοῦν ὡς τὸ γίνεσθαι καὶ ἀπόλλυσθαι ταὐτὸν καθέστηκε τῷ ἀλλοιοῦσθαι, πολλὰ δὲ λέγει τὰ στοιχεῖα, καθάπερ καὶ ἕτεροι.
<td>7 And yet Anaxagoras himself failed to understand his own utterance. He says, at all events, that coming-to-be and passing-away are the same as 'being altered':' yet, in common with other thinkers, he affirms that the elements are many.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἐμπεδοκλῆς μὲν γὰρ τὰ μὲν σωματικὰ τέτταρα, τὰ δὲ πάντα μετὰ τῶν κινούντων ἓξ τὸν ἀριθμόν, Ἀναξαγόρας δὲ ἄπειρα καὶ Λεύκιππος καὶ Δημόκριτος.
<td>8 Thus Empedocles holds that the corporeal elements are four, while all the elements—including those which initiate movement—are six in number; whereas Anaxagoras agrees with Leucippus and Democritus that the elements are infinite.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ὁ μὲν γὰρ τὰ ὁμοιομερῆ στοιχεῖα τίθησιν, οἷον ὀστοῦν καὶ σάρκα καὶ μυελόν, καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὧν ἑκάστῳ συνώνυμον τὸ μέρος ἐστίν. Δημόκριτος δὲ καὶ Λεύκιππος ἐκ σωμάτων ἀδιαιρέτων τἆλλα συγκεῖσθαί φασι, ταῦτα δ' ἄπειρα καὶ τὸ πλῆθος εἶναι καὶ τὰς μορφάς, αὐτὰ δὲ πρὸς αὑτὰ διαφέρειν τούτοις ἐξ ὧν εἰσὶ καὶ θέσει καὶ τάξει τούτων.
<td>9 Anaxagoras posits as elements the 'homoeomeries', viz. bone, flesh, marrow, and everything else which is such that part and whole are the same in name and nature. while Democritus and Leucippus say that there are indivisible bodies, infinite both in number and in the varieties of their shapes, of which everything else is composed—the compounds differing one from another according to the shapes, 'positions', and 'groupings' of their constituents.)
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἐναντίως δὲ φαίνονται λέγοντες οἱ περὶ Ἀναξαγόραν τοῖς περὶ Ἐμπεδοκλέα· ὁ μὲν γάρ φησι πῦρ καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ ἀέρα καὶ γῆν στοιχεῖα τέσσαρα καὶ ἁπλᾶ εἶναι μᾶλλον ἢ σάρκα καὶ ὀστοῦν καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα τῶν ὁμοιομερῶν, οἱ δὲ ταῦτα μὲν ἁπλᾶ καὶ στοιχεῖα, γῆν δὲ καὶ πῦρ καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ ἀέρα σύνθετα·
<td>10 For the views of the school of Anaxagoras seem diametrically opposed to those of the followers of Empedocles. Empedocles says that Fire, Water, Air, and Earth are four elements, and are thus 'simple' rather than flesh, bone, and bodies which, like these, are 'homoeomeries'. But the followers of Anaxagoras regard the 'homoeomeries' as 'simple' and elements, whilst they affirm that Earth, Fire, Water, and Air are composite; for each of these is (according to them) a 'common seminary' of all the 'homoeomeries'.
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<td>In hoc igitur libro philosophus primo ponit prooemium, demonstrans suam intentionem: secundo prosequitur propositum, ibi: antiquorum quidem igitur et cetera. Circa primum tria facit.
<td>3. In this book, therefore, the Philosopher first prefaces an introduction, in which he states his intention; secondly, he carries it out (L. 3). In the introduction he does three things.
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<td>Primo enim ponit id quod principaliter intendit. Et continuatur ad finem libri de caelo, ubi dictum est: <i>de gravi quidem igitur et levi determinatum sit hoc modo</i>. Et subditur: <i>de generatione autem et corruptione natura generatorum et corruptorum</i>, idest eorum quae naturaliter generantur et corrumpuntur, <i>universaliter de omnibus et causas dividendum est</i>, ut scilicet assignemus alias causas generationis et alias corruptionis, vel etiam ut communes causas distinguamus, applicando singulis speciebus generatorum et corruptorum naturaliter, <i>et rationes eorum determinandum est</i>, vel generationis et corruptionis, vel etiam eorum quae naturaliter generantur et corrumpuntur: utrorumque enim definitiones scire oportet, naturalis enim non solum considerat motum, sed etiam ipsa mobilia. Dicit autem <i>natura generatorum et corruptorum</i>, quia considerare de generatione et corruptione artificialium non pertinet ad naturalem.
<td>First [1], he states what his main intention is. And this is in continuation with the end of the book <i>On the Heavens</i>, where he had said: "We have now finished our examination of the heavy and the light..." He now adds: "Our next task is to study coming-to-be and passing-away. Of all the things that come-to-be and pass-away by nature" i.e., of things that are naturally generated and corrupted, we are to distinguish the causes of these processes considered in general," assigning, namely, one set of causes for generation and another set for corruption, or else distinguishing the common causes by assigning them to the particular species of naturally generated and corrupted things, "and state their definitions," i.e., either the definitions of generation and corruption or also of the things that are naturally generated and corrupted — for one must know the definitions of each, since Natural Science not only considers motions but mobile things themselves. He says, "of things that come-to-be and pass-away by nature," because the study of the generation and corruption of artificial things does not pertain to Natural Science.
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<td>Secundo cum dicit: amplius etc., promittit se determinaturum de aliis motibus consequentibus, scilicet de alteratione et augmentatione, quid sit utrumque.
<td>Secondly [2], he promises to reach conclusions on the other subsequent motions, namely, on alteration and growth, as to the nature of both.
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<td>Tertio ibi: et utrum etc., promittit se determinaturum de comparatione praedictorum adinvicem: utrum scilicet sit existimandum (vel recipiendum) quod eadem sit natura et ratio alterationis et generationis, aut <i>semota</i>, idest distincta, ut scilicet ita differant ratione et natura, sicut sunt <i>determinata</i>, idest distincta, nominibus.
<td>Thirdly [3] he promises to settle the matter of the comparison of the aforesaid to each other, namely, whether one should consider (or accept) the nature and notion of alteration and generation as being the same, or "separate," i.e., distinct, so as to differ in notion and nature, as they are "determinate," i.e., distinct, as to name.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: antiquorum quidem igitur etc., prosequitur suum propositum.
<td>4. Then [4] he pursues his proposition.
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<td>Et primo determinat de generatione et corruptione in communi, et etiam de consequentibus motibus; secundo determinat de generatione et corruptione elementorum, et hoc in secundo libro, qui incipit ibi: de mixtione quidem igitur et cetera.
<td>First, he determines concerning generation and corruption in common and also concerning the consequent motions; Secondly, he determines concerning the generation and corruption of the elements. This in Book II.
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<td>Prima pars dividitur in duas:
<td>The first part is divided in two:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">in prima determinat de generatione et corruptione in communi, et aliis motibus consequentibus;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">in secunda determinat de quibusdam quae ad hoc requiruntur, ibi: quoniam autem primum oportet de materia et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">In the first he determines concerning generation and corruption in common and concerning the other consequent motions;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">In the second he determines concerning certain things required for these, (L. 18).
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>As to the first he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo inquirit utrum generatio differat ab alteratione, quod erat tertium propositorum: oportuit tamen prius hoc tangere, quia, cum differentia constituat speciem, non posset sciri propria ratio generationis et corruptionis, hoc ignorato.
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secundo determinat de generatione et consequentibus motibus, ibi: universaliter itaque de generatione et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he inquires whether generation differs from alteration. This was the third of the things brought forward; nevertheless it must be discussed first, because, since it is the difference that determines a species, the appropriate notion of generation and corruption could not be known, if this remained unknown;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he determines concerning generation and consequent motions (L. 3).
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<td>
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<td>Circa primum tria facit:
<td>As to the first he does three things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit diversas sententias antiquorum circa differentiam generationis et alterationis;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo rationem diversitatis assignat, ibi: quicumque igitur etc.;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">tertio rationem assignatam manifestat, ibi: Empedocles quidem enim et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he cites various opinions of the ancients regarding the difference between generation and corruption;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he gives a reason for these variances, there at 7;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Thirdly, he elucidates this reason at 10.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod quidam antiquorum philosophorum dixerunt quod illa quae dicitur <i>simplex</i> generatio, idest absoluta, est idem quod alteratio: alii vero dixerunt aliud esse generationem simplicem et alterationem.
<td>He says therefore first that some of the early philosophers said that what is called "simple," i.e., absolute, generation is the same as alteration, while others said that the two differ.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: quicumque igitur etc., assignat rationem diversitatis praedictae. Et circa hoc tria facit. Primo assignat rationem quare quidam posuerunt generationem simplicem esse idem quod alterationem. Fuerunt enim quidam qui posuerunt unum esse principium materiale omnium rerum, puta aquam vel aerem vel ignem vel vaporem; et cum hoc posuerunt quod materia est tota substantia rei; ex quo sequitur quod substantia rei semper maneat; et ideo generatio in re non differt ab alteratione. Et hoc est quod dicit: quicumque dicunt <i>omne</i>, idest universum, esse unum secundum materialem substantiam, et omnia <i>generant</i>, idest causant, ex uno principio materiali, his necesse est dicere quod generatio sit idem quod alteratio; et quod idem sit aliquid <i>principaliter</i>, idest simpliciter, fieri, et alterari.
<td>5. Then [5] he assigns the reason for the aforesaid diversity. Concerning this he does three things. First, he explains why some identified simple generation and alteration. For there were some who posited there to be one material principle of all things — e.g., water, or air, or fire, or vapor. At the same time they held that the matter of a thing is its entire substance. From this it follows that the substance of a thing always persists. Hence generation does not in reality differ from alteration. In the words of Aristotle: all who say that everything, i.e., the universe, is one with respect to material substance, and who generate all things, i.e., cause all things, from one material principle — all such must say that generation is the same as alteration and that it is the same thing for something to be made "principally," i.e., absolutely, and to be altered.
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<td>Secundo cum dicit: quicumque autem etc., assignat rationem quare quidam posuerunt differre generationem et alterationem. Fuerunt enim quidam philosophi ponentes plura principia materialia, ex quorum congregatione et segregatione dicebant omnia fieri et corrumpi. Et secundum hoc congregationem dicebant esse generationem, et segregationem corruptionem: alterationem autem dicebant fieri per qualemcumque partium transmutationem. Hoc est ergo quod dicit, quod quicumque posuerunt plures materias rerum quam unam, sicut Empedocles, Anaxagoras et Leucippus cum Democrito, istis videtur aliud generatio et aliud alteratio.
<td>6. Secondly [6], he tells why others postulated that generation differs from alteration. For there were certain philosophers who posited several material principles, from the association and disassociation of which all things were said to come to be and to be destroyed. In this doctrine, association was called "generation," and disassociation "corruption." But alteration, they declared, came about in terms of any change affecting the parts. Thus Aristotle says: all who posited more material principles than one, as did Empedocles, Anaxagoras, Leucippus and Democritus — to all such it seemed that generation was one thing and alteration another.
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<td>Tertio ibi: sed tamen Anaxagoras etc., excipit ab his Anaxagoram, de quo dicit quod <i>propriam vocem ignoravit</i>, sicut ille qui ponit aliquid non conveniens suae positioni. Cum enim poneret multa elementa, sicut alii, tamen dixit singulariter quod generari et corrumpi sunt idem quod alterari. Et huius diversitatis ratio est quia, sicut dicitur in I Physic., Anaxagoras posuit res fieri per abstractionem a mixto: ponebat autem misceri non solum elementa, sed etiam accidentia: et ideo eundem modum ponebat productionis corporum, qui pertinet ad generationem et corruptionem, et accidentium, qui pertinet ad alterationem; ut scilicet, sicut caro fit per abstractionem, ita et albedo. Et secundum hoc generatio non differebat ab alteratione.
<td>7. Thirdly [7], he makes an exception for Anaxagoras, who, Aristotle says, forgot his own words, as does a person who says things contrary to his own position. For although Anaxagoras, as the others, posited many elements, yet he singly declared that to be generated and corrupted is the same as to be altered. The reason for this difference is that, as is said in <i>Physics</i> I, Anaxagoras taught that things come to be by being abstracted from the compound. However, he placed not only elements but also accidents in the mixture. Consequently, he assigned the same manner of production to bodies, which come about through generation and corruption, as to accidents, which pertain to alteration — so that, just as - flesh comes to be by being abstracted [from that mixture] so too whiteness. According to this, therefore, generation is no different than alteration.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: Empedocles quidem enim etc., manifestat praemissam rationem. Et primo ostendendo quomodo quidam ponebant plura principia: eorum enim qui ponebant unum principium, erat unus absolutus modus procedendi.
<td>8. Then [8] he explains the above-mentioned reasoning. First, by showing how some thinkers came to posit more than one principle; for in the case of those who posited but one, there was just one absolute way for things to come about;
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<td>Secundo manifestat quare illi qui ponebant unum principium, negabant differentiam generationis et alterationis, quam adstruebant ponentes plura principia, ibi: his quidem igitur et cetera.
<td>Secondly, he explains why those who posited one principle denied a difference between generation and alteration, a difference which the others admitted (L.2).
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<td>Circa primum ponit differentias ponentium plura principia:
<td>Regarding the first he shows wherein those who posited many principles differed.
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<td>et primo Empedoclis ad omnes alios. Et dicit quod ideo praedictum est quod praedicti philosophi posuerunt plures materias, quia Empedocles ponebat quatuor elementa esse principia materialia, scilicet terram, aquam, aerem et ignem: omnia autem haec cum moventibus, scilicet cum amicitia, quae congregat, et cum lite, quae segregat, dicit esse sex numero: et ita ponebat principia finita. Sed Anaxagoras et Democritus et Leucippus posuerunt principia infinita.
<td>First, he shows how Empedocles differed from all the others. And he says that the reason why we previously stated that the aforesaid philosophers posited several matters is that Empedocles posited the four elements as material principles, namely, earth, water, air and fire. These four, together with their movers, namely, friendship which combined, and strife which separated, he says to be in number 6. Consequently, he posited finite principles. But Anaxagoras and Democritus and Leucippus posited infinite principles.
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<td>Secundo ibi: hic quidem etc., ponit differentiam Anaxagorae a Democrito et Leucippo. Hic enim, scilicet Anaxagoras, posuit corpora <i>homoeomera</i>, idest similium partium, esse principia materialia, utpote infinitas partes carnis et ossis et medullae et aliorum huiusmodi, quorum quaelibet pars est <i>synonyma</i> toti, idest conveniens cum toto in nomine et ratione: haec enim dicuntur <i>homoeomera</i>, idest similium partium. Et haec positio magis manifestata fuit ab Aristotele in I Physic.
<td>9. Secondly [9] he shows how Anaxagoras differed from Democritus and Leucippus. For Anaxagoras posited "homoeomerous" bodies, i.e., bodies with similar parts, to be the material principles — for example, infinite parts of flesh and of bone and of marrow and of other such, each part of which is "synonymous" with the whole, i.e., agreeing with the whole in name and notion. This theory has been explained in greater detail by Aristotle in <i>Physics</i> I.
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<td>Sed Democritus et Leucippus dixerunt omnia corpora sensibilia componi ex quibusdam indivisibilibus corporibus. Quae quidem ponebant infinita multitudine et <i>forma</i>, idest figura: nam quaedam horum corporum indivisibilium dicebant esse circularia, quaedam autem quadrata, quaedam pyramidalia, et sic de aliis. Ponebant tamen omnia esse indifferentis naturae et speciei, contra id quod ponebat Anaxagoras. Et tamen, cum ista principia sint indifferentis naturae et speciei alia corpora sensibilia differunt ab aliis, secundum differentiam eorum ex quibus componuntur, non quidem secundum differentiam in specie naturae, sed secundum differentiam positionis et ordinis; prout scilicet diversimode ordinantur et disponuntur in diversis secundum prius et posterius, ante et retro, sursum et deorsum, dextrorsum et sinistrorsum.
<td>But Democritus and Leucippus held that all sensible bodies are composed of certain indivisible bodies supposed to be infinite in multitude and "form," i.e., shape, for they said some were circular, some square, some pyramidic, and so on. But contrary to what Anaxagoras posited, they posited all these to be indifferent in nature and species. Yet, while these principles are indifferent in nature and species, nevertheless sensible bodies differ from one another depending on the different things out of which they are composed. However, this is not according to a difference in the species of nature, but in position and order — namely, as these are variously disposed in different bodies according to prior and posterior, before and behind, above and below, right and left.
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<td>Tertio ibi: contrarie autem etc., ponit differentiam Anaxagorae ab Empedocle. Et dicit quod contrarie videntur dicere. Empedocles enim dixit quod ignis, terra, aer et aqua sunt quatuor elementa, et quod sunt magis simplicia quam caro et os et talia corpora <i>homoeomera</i>, idest similium partium: et hoc ideo, quia ponebat res fieri per congregationem ex elementis, et ideo illa corpora ponebat elementa, quae congregantur ad aliorum compositionem.
<td>10. Thirdly [10], he shows how Anaxagoras differed from Empedocles, and he says that they seem to contradict one another. For Empedocles declared that fire, earth, air and water are the four elements, and that they are more simple than flesh and bone and such "homoeomerous" bodies, i.e., bodies of similar parts. The reason was that he posited that things come into being from the elements being assembled; hence those bodies that were assembled to form other bodies he called "elements."
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<td>Sed Anaxagoras ponebat os et carnem et similia corpora esse magis simplicia; et elementa, scilicet terram, aquam, aerem et ignem, ponebat esse composita. Et hoc ideo, quia ponebat res fieri per abstractionem a mixto: unde, cum videret quod ex aere, aqua, terra et igne omnia alia corpora generantur, credidit quod in praedictis quatuor corporibus esset maxima commixtio, ita quod ex his omnia alia extrahi possent. Et hoc est quod subdit, quod dicebat ista quatuor corpora esse <i>panspermiam</i>, idest universalia semina, omnium aliorum corporum; quasi praedicta quatuor corpora essent commixta ex seminibus omnium aliorum corporum.
<td>Anaxagoras, on the other hand, posited bone and flesh and similar bodies to be the more simple, and the elements, namely, earth, water, air and fire, to be composite. His reason was that he held things to come to be through being separated from a mixture. Hence, since he saw that all other bodies are generated from air, water, earth and fire, he believed that there was in these four bodies a maximum mixture, so that all other bodies could be extracted from them. Thus he [Aristotle] adds that he called these four bodies "panspermia," i.e., the universal seeds of all other bodies, in the sense that these four were a mixture of the seeds of all other bodies.
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<blockquote>
Lecture 2<br>
The basic reason for these differing opinions on generation and alteration.
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<td colspan="2"><b>Chapter 1 cont.</b>
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<td style="font-family: palatino">(314b.) πανσπερμίαν γὰρ εἶναι τούτων. Τοῖς μὲν οὖν ἐξ ἑνὸς πάντα κατασκευάζουσιν ἀναγκαῖον λέγειν τὴν γένεσιν καὶ τὴν φθορὰν ἀλλοίωσιν· ἀεὶ γὰρ μένειν τὸ ὑποκείμενον ταὐτὸ καὶ ἕν·
<td>11 Those, then, who construct all things out of a single element, must maintain that coming-to-be and passing-away are 'alteration'. For they must affirm that the underlying something always remains identical and one; and change of such a substratum is what we call 'altering'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">τὸ δὲ τοιοῦτον ἀλλοιοῦσθαί φαμεν· τοῖς δὲ τὰ γένη πλείω ποιοῦσι διαφέρειν τὴν ἀλλοίωσιν τῆς γενέσεως· συνιόντων γὰρ καὶ διαλυομένων ἡ γένεσις συμβαίνει καὶ ἡ φθορά. Διὸ λέγει τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον καὶ Ἐμπεδοκλῆς, ὅτι "φύσις οὐδενός ἐστιν,... ἀλλὰ μόνον μίξις τε διάλλαξίς τε μιγέντων." Ὅτι μὲν οὖν οἰκεῖος ὁ λόγος αὐτῶν τῇ ὑποθέσει οὕτω φάναι, δῆλον, καὶ ὅτι λέγουσι τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον·
<td>12 Those, on the other hand, who make the ultimate kinds of things more than one, must maintain that 'alteration' is distinct from coming-to-be: for coming-to-be and passing-away result from the consilience and the dissolution of the many kinds. That is why Empedocles too uses language to this effect, when he says 'There is no coming-to-be of anything, but only a mingling and a divorce of what has been mingled'. Thus it is clear (i) that to describe coming-to-be and passing-away in these terms is in accordance with their fundamental assumption, and (ii) that they do in fact so describe them:
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<td style="font-family: palatino">ἀναγκαῖον δὲ καὶ τούτοις τὴν ἀλλοίωσιν εἶναι μέν τι φάναι παρὰ τὴν γένεσιν, ἀδύνατον μέντοι κατὰ τὰ ὑπ' ἐκείνων λεγόμενα. Τοῦτο δ' ὅτι λέγομεν ὀρθῶς, ῥᾴδιον συνιδεῖν.
<td>13 nevertheless, they too must recognize 'alteration' as a fact distinct from coming to-be, though it is impossible for them to do so consistently with what they say. That we are right in this criticism is easy to perceive.
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Ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁρῶμεν ἠρεμούσης τῆς οὐσίας ἐν αὐτῇ μεταβολὴν κατὰ μέγεθος, τὴν καλουμένην αὔξησιν καὶ φθίσιν, οὕτω καὶ ἀλλοίωσιν. Οὐ μὴν ἀλλ' ἐξ ὧν λέγουσιν οἱ πλείους ἀρχὰς ποιοῦντες μιᾶς ἀδύνατον ἀλλοιοῦσθαι. Τὰ γὰρ πάθη, καθ' ἅ φαμεν τοῦτο συμβαίνειν, διαφοραὶ τῶν στοιχείων εἰσίν, λέγω δ' οἷον θερμὸν ψυχρόν, λευκὸν μέλαν, ξηρὸν ὑγρόν, μαλακὸν σκληρὸν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἕκαστον, ὥσπερ καὶ φησὶν Ἐμπεδοκλῆς
<dl>
<dd>"ἠέλιον μὲν λευκὸν ὁρᾶν καὶ θερμὸν ἁπάντῃ,
<dd>ὄμβρον δ' ἐν πᾶσιν δνοφόεντά τε ῥιγαλέον τε".<br>
Ὁμοίως δὲ διορίζει καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λοιπῶν. Ὥστ' εἰ μὴ δυνατὸν ἐκ πυρὸς γενέσθαι ὕδωρ μηδ' ἐξ ὕδατος γῆν, οὐδ' ἐκ λευκοῦ μέλαν ἔσται οὐδὲν οὐδ' ἐκ μαλακοῦ σκληρόν· ὁ δ' αὐτὸς λόγος καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων· τοῦτο δ' ἦν ἀλλοίωσις.
</dl>
<td>
14 For 'alteration' is a fact of observation. While the substance of the thing remains unchanged, we see it 'altering' just as we see in it the changes of magnitude called 'growth' and 'diminution'. Nevertheless, the statements of those who posit more 'original reals' than one make 'alteration' impossible. For 'alteration, as we assert, takes place in respect to certain qualities: and these qualities (I mean, e.g. hot-cold, white-black, dry-moist, soft-hard, and so forth) are, all of them, differences characterizing the 'elements'. The actual words of Empedocles may be quoted in illustration
<dl>
<dd>The sun everywhere bright to see, and hot,
<dd>The rain everywhere dark and cold;<br>
and he distinctively characterizes his remaining elements in a similar manner. Since, therefore, it is not possible for Fire to become Water, or Water to become Earth, neither will it be possible for anything white to become black, or anything soft to become hard; and the same argument applies to all the other qualities. Yet this is what 'alteration' essentially is.
</dl>
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἧι καὶ φανερὸν ὅτι μίαν ἀεὶ τοῖς ἐναντίοις ὑποθετέον ὕλην, ἄν τε μεταβάλλῃ κατὰ τόπον, ἄν τε κατ' αὔξησιν καὶ φθίσιν, ἄν τε κατ' ἀλλοίωσιν. Ἔτι δ' ὁμοίως ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι τοῦτο καὶ ἀλλοίωσιν· εἴτε γὰρ ἀλλοίωσίς (315a.) ἐστι, καὶ τὸ ὑποκείμενον ἓν στοιχεῖον καὶ μία πάντων ὕλη τῶν ἐχόντων εἰς ἄλληλα μεταβολήν, κἂν εἰ τὸ ὑποκείμενον ἕν, ἔστιν ἀλλοίωσις.
<td>15 It follows, as an obvious corollary, that a single matter must always be assumed as underlying the contrary 'poles' of any change whether change of place, or growth and diminution, or 'alteration'; further, that the being of this matter and the being of 'alteration' stand and fall together. For if the change is 'alteration', then the substratum is a single element; i.e. all things which admit of change into one another have a single matter. And, conversely, if the substratum of the changing things is one, there is 'alteration'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἐμπεδοκλῆς μὲν οὖν ἔοικεν ἐναντία λέγειν καὶ πρὸς τὰ φαινόμενα καὶ πρὸς αὑτὸν αὐτός. Ἅμα μὲν γὰρ οὔ φησιν ἕτερον ἐξ ἑτέρου γίνεσθαι τῶν στοιχείων οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ τἆλλα πάντα ἐκ τούτων, ἅμα δ' ὅταν εἰς ἓν συναγάγῃ τὴν ἅπασαν φύσιν πλὴν τοῦ νείκους, ἐκ τοῦ ἑνὸς γίνεσθαι πάλιν ἕκαστον. Ὥστ' ἐξ ἑνός τινος δῆλον ὅτι διαφοραῖς τισι χωριζομένων καὶ πάθεσιν ἐγένετο τὸ μὲν ὕδωρ τὸ δὲ πῦρ, καθάπερ λέγει τὸν μὲν ἥλιον λευκὸν καὶ θερμόν, τὴν δὲ γῆν βαρὺ καὶ σκληρόν· ἀφαιρουμένων οὖν τούτων τῶν διαφορῶν (εἰσὶ γὰρ ἀφαιρεταὶ γενόμεναί γε) δῆλον ὡς ἀνάγκη γίνεσθαι καὶ γῆν ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ ὕδωρ ἐκ γῆς, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἕκαστον, οὐ τότε μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ νῦν, μεταβάλλοντά γε τοῖς πάθεσιν. Ἔστι δ' ἐξ ὧν εἴρηκε δυνάμενα προσγίνεσθαι καὶ χωρίζεσθαι πάλιν, ἄλλως τε καὶ μαχομένων ἀλλήλοις ἔτι τοῦ νείκους καὶ τῆς φιλίας. Διόπερ καὶ τότε ἐξ ἑνὸς ἐγεννήθησαν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ πῦρ γε καὶ γῆ καὶ ὕδωρ ὄντα ἓν ἦν τὸ πᾶν.
<td>16 Empedocles, indeed, seems to contradict his own statements as well as the observed facts. For he denies that any one of his elements comes-to-be out of any other, insisting on the contrary that they are the things out of which everything else comes-to-be; and yet (having brought the entirety of existing things, except Strife, together into one) he maintains, simultaneously with this denial, that each thing once more comes-to-be out of the One. Hence it was clearly out of a One that this came-to-be Water, and that Fire, various portions of it being separated off by certain characteristic differences or qualities—as indeed he calls the sun 'white and hot', and the earth 'heavy and hard'. If, therefore, these characteristic differences be taken away (for they can be taken away, since they came-to-be), it will clearly be inevitable for Earth to come to-be out of Water and Water out of Earth, and for each of the other elements to undergo a similar transformation—not only then, but also now—if, and because, they change their qualities. And, to judge by what he says, the qualities are such that they can be 'attached' to things and can again be 'separated' from them, especially since Strife and Love are still fighting with one another for the mastery. It was owing to this same conflict that the elements were generated from a One at the former period. I say 'generated', for presumably Fire, Earth, and Water had no distinctive existence at all while merged in one.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἄδηλον δὲ καὶ πότερον ἀρχὴν αὐτῶν θετέον τὸ ἓν ἢ τὰ πολλά, λέγω δὲ πῦρ καὶ γῆν καὶ τὰ σύστοιχα τούτων. Ἧι μὲν γὰρ ὡς ὕλη ὑπόκειται, ἐξ οὗ μεταβάλλοντα διὰ τὴν κίνησιν γίνονται γῆ καὶ πῦρ, τὸ ἓν στοιχεῖον· ᾗ δὲ τοῦτο μὲν ἐκ συνθέσεως γίνεται συνιόντων ἐκείνων, ἐκεῖνα δ' ἐκ διαλύσεως, στοιχειωδέστερα ἐκεῖνα καὶ πρότερα τὴν φύσιν.
<td>17 There is another obscurity in the theory Empedocles. Are we to regard the One as his 'original real'? Or is it the Many—i.e. Fire and Earth, and the bodies co-ordinate with these? For the One is an 'element' in so far as it underlies the process as matter—as that out of which Earth and Fire come-to-be through a change of qualities due to 'the motion'. On the other hand, in so far as the One results from composition (by a consilience of the Many), whereas they result from disintegration, the Many are more 'elementary' than the One, and prior to it in their nature.
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</blockquote>
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<td>Supra Aristoteles assignavit rationem quare quidam antiqui philosophi posuerunt generationem ab alteratione differre, quidam autem non, ex eo quod quidam posuerunt unum principium materiale, quidam autem multa. Hanc rationem supra manifestavit quantum ad radicem, ostendens quomodo quidam philosophorum posuerunt multa principia: nam ponentibus unum principium absolutior est sermo. Nunc autem intendit ipsam rationem secundum se manifestare. Et circa hoc duo facit:
<td>11. In the preceding lecture Aristotle stated that the reason some ancient philosophers posited generation as differing from alteration, and others did not, was that some postulated one material principle and others more than one. He clarified above the root of this reason, showing how some posited many principles — for in the case of those proposing one principle, the exposition is more unqualified. Now he intends to elucidate this reason in itself. Concerning this he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo manifestat ipsam rationem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo obiicit contra eam, ibi: necesse est autem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he manifests the reason;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he objects to it, at 14.
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>About the first he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo manifestat praedictam rationem quantum ad ponentes unum principium;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo quantum ad ponentes plura principia, ibi: his autem qui genera multa et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he elucidates the aforesaid reason as to those who posit one principle;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, as to those who posit several principles, at 13.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod omnibus illis philosophis qui ex uno principio materiali ponunt omnia esse producta, necesse est dicere quod generatio et corruptio idem sit alterationi. Illud enim principium materiale ponebant esse aliquod ens actu, puta ignem vel aerem aut aquam: et ponebant quod illud esset substantia omnium quae ex eo generantur: et sicut materia semper manet in his quae ex materia fiunt, ita ponebant quod illud subiectum semper manet unum et idem. Hoc autem dicimus alterari, quando, manente substantia actu existentis, fit aliqua variatio circa formam. Unde sequitur quod nulla transmutatio esse possit quae dicitur simplex generatio et corruptio, sed sola alteratio.
<td>12. He says therefore first [11] that all the philosophers who assert that all things are produced from one material principle are forced to say that generation and corruption are the same as alteration. For they posited their one material principle to be some actual being, such as fire or air or water; they also posited it to be the substance of all things generated from it. And just as the matter always persists in things made from matter, so they said, that this subject remains one and the same. Now we say that a thing is altered when, with the substance of the thing in act remaining, some variation occurs with respect to the form. Hence it follows that there can be no change called simple generation and corruption, but only alteration.
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<td>Nos autem ponimus omnium generabilium et corruptibilium esse unum subiectum primum, quod tamen non est ens actu, sed in potentia. Et ideo ex eo quod accipit formam, per quam fit ens actu, dicitur simpliciter generatio: ex hoc autem quod, postquam est ens actu factum, suscipit aliam quamcumque formam, dicitur alteratio.
<td>We, on the other hand, declare that there is of all generable and corruptible things one first subject, which, however, is not a being in act but in potency. Therefore when its first subject acquires a form through which it becomes a being in act, this is called simple generation. But it is said to be altered when, after being made a being in act, it acquires any additional form.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: his autem etc., manifestat praedictam rationem quantum ad ponentes plura principia. Et dicit quod illis qui faciunt multa genera principiorum materialium, de quibus supra dictum est, necesse est dicere quod differat generatio ab alteratione. Inquantum enim illa principia materialia conveniunt in unum, contingit, secundum eos, generatio: in quantum autem dissolvuntur, contingit corruptio. Unde Empedocles dicit quod <i>natura</i>, idest forma corporis compositi ex elementis, nullius elementorum est (neque enim est de natura ignis, neque de natura aquae vel aliorum elementorum), sed est solum <i>mixtura</i>, idest solum consistit in natura quadam mixtionis; et opposita privatio consistit in segregatione mixtorum. Et quia ex hoc dicitur aliquid generari, quod acquirit propriam naturam; ideo ponebant quod ex congregatione erat generatio, et ex segregatione corruptio. Fieri alterationem autem ponebant per solam transmutationem, ut infra dicetur. Quia igitur iste sermo est proprius suppositioni eorum, scilicet quod ita loquantur, manifestum est quod ita dicunt de differentia generationis et alterationis, sicut dictum est.
<td>13. Then [12], he elucidates the aforesaid reason as to those who posited several principles. And he says that those, mentioned above, who assign many kinds of material principles, must say that generation differs from alteration. For according to those philosophers generation comes about when those material principles combine into one; when they are separated, corruption occurs. Hence Empedocles asserts that the "nature," i.e., the form, of a body composed of elements is none of the elements (for it is not of the nature of fire or of water or of the other elements), but it is solely a "mixture," i.e., it consists solely in a certain "mixed" nature, and the opposite privation consists in the separation of what was mixed. And since something is said to be generated when it acquires its appropriate nature, they posited that generation resulted from aggregation, and corruption from separation. But alteration, they said, takes place only through transmutation, as will be explained later. Therefore, since this explanation fits their supposition, and they do indeed speak thus, it is plain that they so speak of the difference between generation and alteration, as has been said.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: necesse est autem etc., improbat ea quae dicta sunt, quantum ad ponentes plura principia: nam ponentes unum principium, ex necessitate concludunt propositum, supposita sua radice. Et circa hoc duo facit: primo obiicit communiter contra omnes; secundo specialiter contra Empedoclem, ibi: Empedocles quidem igitur et cetera. Circa primum duo facit.
<td>14. Then [13] he disproves what has been stated, with respect to those who posit several principles, for those who posit but one principle reach the conclusion with necessity once its root is supposed. Concerning this he does two things:
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<td>Primo proponit quod intendit, dicens quod his qui ponunt multa principia, necesse est dicere quod generatio sit aliud praeter alterationem, ut dictum est: sed tamen hoc est impossibile subsistere secundum ea quae ab eis dicuntur. Quod facile potest videri ex his quae sequuntur.
<td>First, he proposes what he intends, and says that those who posit many principles must admit that generation is different from alteration, as has been said. Nevertheless, this is impossible to maintain in consistency with what they say, as will easily be seen from what follows.
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<td>Secundo ibi: quemadmodum enim etc., manifestat propositum duabus rationibus. Circa quarum primam proponit quandam similitudinem, dicens quod sicut videmus quod, substantia <i>quiescente</i>, idest permanente, accidit in ea transmutatio secundum magnitudinem, quae nominatur augmentatio et deminutio, ita necesse est esse de alteratione, quae est motus secundum qualitatem: nam sicut quantitas fundatur in substantia, ita et qualitas. Sed impossibile est per hunc modum fieri alterationem, secundum ea quae ponunt facientes plura principia. Dicunt enim quod <i>passiones</i>, idest passibiles qualitates, secundum quas dicimus hoc contingere, scilicet alterationem, ut patet ex VII Physic., sunt differentiae propriae elementorum, scilicet calidum et frigidum, album et nigrum, siccum et humidum, molle et durum, et alia huiusmodi: sicut Empedocles dixit quod <i>sol</i>, idest ignis (ponebat enim solem igneae naturae), videtur esse albus et calidus, <i>imber</i> vero, idest aqua, videtur in omnibus esse niger, frigidus et nebulosus, sicut patet ex ipsa obscuratione aeris, quae fit per imbres: et similiter determinabat de reliquis passionibus, attribuens eas elementis.
<td>Secondly [14], he elucidates his proposition with two arguments. In regard to the first, he presents an analogy and says that, just as, while the substance "rests," i.e., remains, we see a change occur in it as to size, called "growth" and "decrease," so too with alteration, which is a motion according to quality. For just as quantity is based on substance, so too is quality. But according to what is posited by those philosophers who assume many principles, it is impossible for alteration to occur in this manner. For they say that the "passions," i.e., the passible qualities, with respect to which we state this, namely, alteration to occur, are the proper differences of the elements, namely, hot and cold, white and black, dry and moist, soft and hard, and so on. For example, Empedocles stated that the "sun," i.e., fire, since he posited the sun to be of the nature of fire, is seen as white and hot; "rain," i.e., water, is seen always as dark, cold and cloudy, as is evident from the darkening of the air when it rains. He explained the other passions in a similar way, attributing them to the elements.
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<td>Dicebant autem quod non erat possibile ex igne fieri aquam, aut ex aqua terram, vel quocumque modo unum elementorum converti in aliud: non enim ponebant huiusmodi elementa composita ex materia et forma, ut sic possit ex uno corrupto aliud generari; sed ponebant esse primas materias, quae non resolverentur in aliquod primum subiectum; oportet autem omne quod in aliud convertitur, resolvi in aliquod subiectum primum. Impossibile est autem propria accidentia inveniri nisi in propriis subiectis: unde, si calidum est proprium accidens ignis et frigidum aquae, impossibile est calidum esse nisi in igne, et frigidum nisi in aqua, et sic de aliis. Si ergo ex aqua non potest fieri ignis, neque ex uno elementorum aliud, consequens est quod nec possit aliquid ex albo fieri nigrum vel ex molli durum: et eadem ratio est de aliis huiusmodi qualitatibus. Cum ergo alteratio non contingat nisi secundum variationem dictarum qualitatum circa idem subiectum, consequens est quod nulla erit alteratio. Et ita nihil est quod ponunt differentiam inter generationem et alterationem.
<td>They said that it was not possible for water to be produced from fire, or earth from water, or for any one of the elements to be converted into another in any way whatsoever. For they did not posit such elements as composed of matter and form, so that out of the corruption of one, another could be generated. Rather they posited them as first matters that would not be resolved into some first subject. But whatever is to be converted into something else must be resolved into some first subject. Now it is impossible for the proper accidents of a thing to be anywhere but in their proper subject. Hence, if "hot" is the proper accident of fire, and "cold" of water, "hot" can be found only in fire and "cold" only in water, and so on for the others. If, therefore, fire cannot come to be from water, nor one element from another, then black cannot come to be from white or hard from soft. And the same goes for all other such qualities. Consequently, since alteration occurs only when one or another of these qualities varies in one and the same subject, there is no such thing as alteration. Therefore they have no grounds to posit a difference between generation and alteration.
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<td>Secundam rationem ponit ibi: amplius autem et cetera. Et dicit quod necesse est supponere unam naturam contrariis, quae sunt termini motus, in quolibet motu, scilicet sive transmutetur aliquid secundum locum, sive secundum augmentum et deminutionem. Et similiter necesse est hoc esse in alteratione, ut si alteratio est, sit unum subiectum et una materia omnium habentium huiusmodi transmutationem adinvicem: et si est unum subiectum eorum secundum quae attenditur alteratio, sequitur quod sit alteratio. Quia igitur praedicti philosophi non ponunt unum subiectum omnium qualitatum secundum quas attenditur alteratio, sed plura, non possunt ponere alterationem: et sic supervacue dicunt aliud esse generationem et alterationem.
<td>15. He presents the second argument [15] and says that it is necessary in any motion to suppose one nature for the contraries which are the termini of the motion, namely, whether something is being transmuted with respect to place, or growth and decrease. Likewise, this must be so in alteration, namely, that if there is alteration, there be one subject and one matter for all the things having such a mutual change, and that if those have one subject when alteration is looked for, it follows that there be alteration. But since the aforesaid thinkers do not posit one subject for all the qualities involved in alteration, but several, they cannot posit alteration. Consequently, they groundlessly say alteration to be different from generation.
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<td>Differt autem haec ratio a priori: nam haec ratio assignat universalem causam medii quod assumebatur in prima ratione.
<td>This argument differs from the first in that it states the universal cause of the middle term used in the first one.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: Empedocles quidem igitur etc., disputat contra Empedoclem specialiter, duabus rationibus. Circa quarum primam dicit quod Empedocles videtur contraria dicere non solum his quae apparent secundum sensum, in quibus videmus ex aqua fieri aerem et ex aere ignem: sed etiam videtur contraria dicere sibi ipsi. Ex una enim parte dicit quod nullum elementorum generatur ex altero, sed alia omnia elementata corpora componuntur ex eis: ex alia vero dicit quod, antequam mundus hic generaretur, contigit omnem naturam rerum congregatam esse in unum per amicitiam, praeter litem; et quod rursus unumquodque elementorum, et etiam unumquodque aliorum corporum, factum est ex illo uno per litem segregantem res. Unde manifestum est quod per quasdam differentias et passiones diversorum elementorum, factum est per litem quod ex illo uno primo hoc esset aqua et aliud esset ignis.
<td>16. Then [16,; he disputes against Empedocles in particular, with two arguments. In the first of these he declares that Empedocles seems to be at odds not only with what our senses reveal, namely, the fact that we see that air comes to be from water and fire from air, but he seems to contradict himself also. For, on the one hand, he says that no element is generated from another, but all other "elemented" bodies are composed of them; and, on the other hand, he says that before this present world was generated, all the nature of things was assembled by Friendship into one, minus Strife, and that each of the elements and also each of the other bodies came to be out of that one through the influence of Strife, separating things. From this it is plain that through certain differences and passions of the various elements it was brought about by Strife out of that one that one thing be water and another fire.
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<td>Et exemplificat de differentiis et passionibus: sicut ipse dicit quod <i>sol</i>, idest ignis, est albus et calidus et levis, terra autem gravis et dura. Et sic patet quod istae differentiae de novo superveniunt elementis. Omne autem quod de novo advenit, potest auferri. Quia igitur huiusmodi differentiae sunt auferibiles, utpote de novo genitae, manifestum est quod, ablatis huiusmodi differentiis, necesse est fieri et aquam ex terra et terram ex aqua, et similiter unumquodque elementorum ex alio: et hoc non <i>tunc</i> solum, scilicet in principio mundi, sed etiam nunc: et hoc per transmutationem passionum.
<td>And he gives an example of the "differences and passions" — thus he [Empedocles] says that the "sun," i.e., fire, is white and hot and light, but earth is heavy and hard. From this, it is evident that such differences are newly acquired by the elements. Now whatever is newly acquired can be removed. Therefore, since these differences are removable inasmuch as they are newly engendered, it is plain that, once removed, it is necessary that water be made from earth, and earth from water, and, in general, each element from some other — and this not only "then," i.e., in the beginning of the world, but also now, coming about through the change of the passions.
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<td>Et quod talis transmutatio passionum fieri possit, probat dupliciter. Primo quidem ex natura ipsarum passionum: quia ex his quae dicit Empedocles, sequitur quod possint de novo advenire, puta per litem segregantem, et rursus separari ab elementis, puta per amicitiam unientem. Aliter ex causa illarum passionum: quia etiam nunc contrariantur adinvicem lis et amicitia. Et ideo <i>tunc, scilicet in principio mundi, ex uno generata sunt elementa, supervenientibus his differentiis: non enim potest dici quod ignis, terra et aqua existentia actu, essent unum totum</i>.
<td>That such a transmutation of passions can occur he proves in two ways. First, from the very nature of these passions. For, from what Empedocles says, it follows that they can be newly acquired, for example, when Strife separates, and then be separated from the elements when Friendship unites. He proves it in another way from the cause of those passions, because even now [their causes, namely] Friendship and Strife, are contrary to one another. And therefore "then," i.e., in the beginning of the world, the elements were generated from the one, with the differences being acquired, for it cannot be said that fire, earth and water, as actual existents, could constitute the one whole.
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<td>Secundam rationem ponit ibi: incertum autem et cetera. Et dicit quod incertum est utrum Empedocles debuerit unum principium ponere aut multa, quamvis ipse multa posuerit, scilicet ignem et terram et alia quae coexistunt eis. Et ideo dicit esse incertum, quia inquantum supponitur unum quoddam, ex quo sicut ex materia fiunt ignis, terra et aqua per aliquam transmutationem a lite segregante, videtur quod sit unum elementum: inquantum autem illud unum fit ex compositione elementorum in unum convenientium per amicitiam, illa autem, scilicet elementa, fiunt ex illo uno per quandam dissolutionem per operationem litis, videtur magis quod illa quatuor sint elementa et prius natura. Et licet hoc magis attendebat Empedocles, ponens res fieri per congregationem et segregationem, Aristoteles tamen in praecedenti ratione probat quod necesse est elementa fieri non per solam segregationem, sed per quandam transmutationem, supervenientibus differentiis elementorum: ex quo sequitur contrarium eius quod intendebat Empedocles, scilicet quod illud unum sit magis principium.
<td>17. In the second argument [17] he says that it is not certain whether Empedocles should have posited one principle or many, even though he did indeed posit many, namely, fire and earth and other things that co-exist with them. He says it is uncertain because, in so far as there is supposed some one thing out of which, as from matter, fire and earth and water come to be through some transmutation caused by the separating action of Strife, it seems that there is one element. But in so far as that one results from the composition of the elements coming together into one through Friendship, and they, namely, the elements, come to be from that one through a certain dissolving caused by Strife, it seems rather that those four are elements and are prior by nature. And although this was more the idea of Empedocles, positing things as produced through Friendship and Strife, Aristotle nevertheless proves in the preceding argument the elements to be produced not by separation alone, but also by a certain change with the arrival of the differences of the elements. From this follows the contrary to what Empedocles intended; namely, that the one is more of a principle [than they].
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Lecture 3<br>
What must be treated. Opinions of Democritus and Leucippus.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ὅλως τε δὴ περὶ γενέσεως καὶ φθορᾶς τῆς ἁπλῆς λεκτέον, πότερον ἔστιν ἢ οὐκ ἔστι καὶ πῶς ἔστιν, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπλῶν κινήσεων, οἷον περὶ αὐξήσεως καὶ ἀλλοιώσεως.
<td>18 We have therefore to discuss the whole subject of 'unqualified' coming-to-be and passing-away; we have to inquire whether these changes do or do not occur and, if they occur, to explain the precise conditions of their occurrence. We must also discuss the remaining forms of change, viz. growth and 'alteration'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Πλάτων μὲν οὖν μόνον περὶ γενέσεως ἐσκέψατο καὶ φθορᾶς, ὅπως ὑπάρχει τοῖς πράγμασι, καὶ περὶ γενέσεως οὐ πάσης ἀλλὰ τῆς τῶν στοιχείων· πῶς δὲ σάρκες ἢ ὀστᾶ ἢ τῶν ἄλλων τι τῶν τοιούτων, οὐδέν· ἔτι οὔτε περὶ ἀλλοιώσεως οὔτε περὶ αὐξήσεως, τίνα τρόπον ὑπάρχουσι τοῖς πράγμασιν. Ὅλως δὲ παρὰ τὰ ἐπιπολῆς περὶ οὐδενὸς οὐδεὶς ἐπέστησεν ἔξω Δημοκρίτου. Οὗτος δ' ἔοικε μὲν περὶ ἁπάντων φροντίσαι, ἤδη (315b.) δὲ ἐν τῷ πῶς διαφέρειν. Οὔτε γὰρ περὶ αὐξήσεως οὐδεὶς οὐδὲν διώρισεν, ὥσπερ λέγομεν, ὅ τι μὴ κἂν ὁ τυχὼν εἴπειεν, ὅτι προσιόντος αὐξάνονται τῷ ὁμοίῳ (πῶς δὲ τοῦτο, οὐκέτι), οὐδὲ περὶ μίξεως, οὔτε περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὡς εἰπεῖν οὐδενός, οἷον τοῦ ποιεῖν καὶ τοῦ πάσχειν, τίνα τρόπον τὸ μὲν ποιεῖ τὸ δὲ πάσχει τὰς φυσικὰς ποιήσεις.
<td>19 For though, no doubt, Plato investigated the conditions under which things come-to-be and pass-away, he confined his inquiry to these changes; and he discussed not all coming-to-be, but only that of the elements. He asked no questions as to how flesh or bones, or any of the other similar compound things, come-to-be; nor again did he examine the conditions under which 'alteration' or growth are attributable to things. A similar criticism applies to all our predecessors with the single exception of Democritus. Not one of them penetrated below the surface or made a thorough examination of a single one of the problems. Democritus, however, does seem not only to have thought carefully about all the problems, but also to be distinguished from the outset by his method. For, as we are saying, none of the other philosophers made any definite statement about growth, except such as any amateur might have made. They said that things grow 'by the accession of like to like', but they did not proceed to explain the manner of this accession. Nor did they give any account of 'combination': and they neglected almost every single one of the remaining problems, offering no explanation, e.g. of 'action' or 'passion' how in physical actions one thing acts and the other undergoes action.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Δημόκριτος δὲ καὶ Λεύκιππος ποιήσαντες τὰ σχήματα τὴν ἀλλοίωσιν καὶ τὴν γένεσιν ἐκ τούτων ποιοῦσι, διακρίσει μὲν καὶ συγκρίσει γένεσιν καὶ φθοράν, τάξει δὲ καὶ θέσει ἀλλοίωσιν.
<td>20 Democritus and Leucippus, however, postulate the 'figures', and make 'alteration' and coming-to-be result from them. They explain coming-to-be and passing-away by their 'dissociation' and 'association', but 'alteration' by their 'grouping' and 'Position'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἐπεὶ δ' ᾤοντο τἀληθὲς ἐν τῷ φαίνεσθαι, ἐναντία δὲ καὶ ἄπειρα τὰ φαινόμενα, τὰ σχήματα ἄπειρα ἐποίησαν, ὥστε ταῖς μεταβολαῖς τοῦ συγκειμένου τὸ αὐτὸ ἐναντίον δοκεῖν ἄλλῳ καὶ ἄλλῳ, καὶ μετακινεῖσθαι μικροῦ ἐμμιγνυμένου καὶ ὅλως ἕτερον φαίνεσθαι ἑνὸς μετακινηθέντος· ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν γὰρ τραγῳδία καὶ κωμῳδία γίνεται γραμμάτων.
<td>21 And since they thought that the 'truth lay in the appearance, and the appearances are conflicting and infinitely many, they made the 'figures' infinite in number. Hence—owing to the changes of the compound—the same thing seems different and conflicting to different people: it is 'transposed' by a small additional ingredient, and appears utterly other by the 'transposition' of a single constituent. For Tragedy and Comedy are both composed of the same letters.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἐπεὶ δὲ δοκεῖ σχεδὸν πᾶσιν ἕτερον εἶναι γένεσις καὶ ἀλλοίωσις, καὶ γίνεσθαι μὲν καὶ φθείρεσθαι συγκρινόμενα καὶ διακρινόμενα, ἀλλοιοῦσθαι δὲ μεταβαλλόντων τῶν παθημάτων, περὶ τούτων ἐπιστήσασι θεωρητέον. Ἀπορίας γὰρ ἔχει ταῦτα καὶ πολλὰς καὶ εὐλόγους. Εἰ μὲν γάρ ἐστι σύγκρισις ἡ γένεσις, πολλὰ ἀδύνατα συμβαίνει· εἰσὶ δ' αὖ λόγοι ἕτεροι ἀναγκαστικοὶ καὶ οὐκ εὔποροι διαλύειν ὡς οὐκ ἐνδέχεται ἄλλως ἔχειν. Εἴτε μή ἐστι σύγκρισις ἡ γένεσις, ἢ ὅλως οὐκ ἔστι γένεσις ἢ ἀλλοίωσις, ἢ εἰ καὶ τοῦτο διαλῦσαι χαλεπὸν ὂν πειρατέον.
<td>22 Since almost all our predecessors think (i) that coming-to-be is distinct from 'alteration', and (ii) that, whereas things 'alter' by change of their qualities, it is by 'association' and 'dissociation' that they come-to-be and pass-away, we must concentrate our attention on these theses. For they lead to many perplexing and well-grounded dilemmas. If, on the one hand, coming-to-be is 'association', many impossible consequences result: and yet there are other arguments, not easy to unravel, which force the conclusion upon us that coming-to-be cannot possibly be anything else. If, on the other hand, coming-to-be is not 'association', either there is no such thing as coming-to-be at all or it is 'alteration': or else we must endeavour to unravel this dilemma too—and a stubborn one we shall find it.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἀρχὴ δὲ τούτων πάντων, πότερον οὕτω γίνεται καὶ ἀλλοιοῦται καὶ αὐξάνεται τὰ ὄντα καὶ τἀναντία τούτοις πάσχει, τῶν πρώτων ὑπαρχόντων μεγεθῶν ἀδιαιρέτων, ἢ οὐθέν ἐστι μέγεθος ἀδιαίρετον· διαφέρει γὰρ τοῦτο πλεῖστον. Καὶ πάλιν εἰ μεγέθη, πότερον, ὡς Δημόκριτος καὶ Λεύκιππος, σώματα ταῦτ' ἐστίν, ἢ ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ Τιμαίῳ ἐπίπεδα.
<td>23 The fundamental question, in dealing with all these difficulties, is this: 'Do things come-to-be and "alter" and grow, and undergo the contrary changes, because the primary "reals" are indivisible magnitudes? Or is no magnitude indivisible?' For the answer we give to this question makes the greatest difference. And again, if the primary 'reals' are indivisible magnitudes, are these bodies, as Democritus and Leucippus maintain? Or are they planes, as is asserted in the Timaeus?
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Τοῦτο μὲν οὖν αὐτό, καθάπερ καὶ ἐν ἄλλοις εἰρήκαμεν, ἄλογον μέχρι ἐπιπέδων διαλῦσαι. Διὸ μᾶλλον εὔλογον σώματα εἶναι ἀδιαίρετα. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ταῦτα πολλὴν ἔχει ἀλογίαν. Ὅμως δὲ τούτοις ἀλλοίωσιν καὶ γένεσιν ἐνδέχεται ποιεῖν, καθάπερ εἴρηται, τροπῇ καὶ διαθιγῇ μετακινοῦντα τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ταῖς τῶν σχημά(316a.) των διαφοραῖς, ὅπερ ποιεῖ Δημόκριτος. Διὸ καὶ χροιὰν οὔ φησιν εἶναι· τροπῇ γὰρ χρωματίζεσθαι. Τοῖς δ' εἰς ἐπίπεδα διαιροῦσιν οὐκέτι· οὐδὲν γὰρ γίνεται πλὴν στερεὰ συντιθεμένων· πάθος γὰρ οὐδ' ἐγχειροῦσι γεννᾶν οὐδὲν ἐξ αὐτῶν.
<td>24 To resolve bodies into planes and no further—this, as we have also remarked elsewhere, is itself a paradox. Hence there is more to be said for the view that there are indivisible bodies. Yet even these involve much of paradox. Still, as we have said, it is possible to construct 'alteration' and coming-to-be with them, if one 'transposes' the same by 'turning' and 'intercontact', and by 'the varieties of the figures', as Democritus does. (His denial of the reality of colour is a corollary from this position: for, according to him, things get coloured by 'turning' of the 'figures'.) But the possibility of such a construction no longer exists for those who divide bodies into planes. For nothing except solids results from putting planes together: they do not even attempt to generate any quality from them.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Αἴτιον δὲ τοῦ ἐπ' ἔλαττον δύνασθαι τὰ ὁμολογούμενα συνορᾶν ἡ ἀπειρία. Διὸ ὅσοι ἐνῳκήκασι μᾶλλον ἐν τοῖς φυσικοῖς μᾶλλον δύνανται ὑποτίθεσθαι τοιαύτας ἀρχὰς αἳ ἐπὶ πολὺ δύνανται συνείρειν· οἱ δ' ἐκ τῶν πολλῶν λόγων ἀθεώρητοι τῶν ὑπαρχόντων ὄντες, πρὸς ὀλίγα βλέψαντες, ἀποφαίνονται ῥᾷον. Ἴδοι δ' ἄν τις καὶ ἐκ τούτων ὅσον διαφέρουσιν οἱ φυσικῶς καὶ λογικῶς σκοποῦντες· περὶ γὰρ τοῦ ἄτομα εἶναι μεγέθη οἱ μέν φασιν ὅτι τὸ αὐτοτρίγωνον πολλὰ ἔσται, Δημόκριτος δ' ἂν φανείη οἰκείοις καὶ φυσικοῖς λόγοις πεπεῖσθαι. Δῆλον δ' ἔσται ὃ λέγομεν προιοῦσιν.
<td>25 Lack of experience diminishes our power of taking a comprehensive view of the admitted facts. Hence those who dwell in intimate association with nature and its phenomena grow more and more able to formulate, as the foundations of their theories, principles such as to admit of a wide and coherent development: while those whom devotion to abstract discussions has rendered unobservant of the facts are too ready to dogmatize on the basis of a few observations. The rival treatments of the subject now before us will serve to illustrate how great is the difference between a 'scientific' and a 'dialectical' method of inquiry. For, whereas the Platonists argue that there must be atomic magnitudes 'because otherwise "The Triangle" will be more than one', Democritus would appear to have been convinced by arguments appropriate to the subject, i.e. drawn from the science of nature. Our meaning will become clear as we proceed.
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<td>Postquam philosophus prosecutus est opinionem antiquorum philosophorum circa differentiam generationis et alterationis, hic incipit determinare de generatione et alteratione, et de aliis motibus. Et circa hoc duo facit:
<td>18. After giving the opinions of the ancient philosophers concerning the difference between generation and alteration, the Philosopher here begins to determine about generation and alteration and the other motions. Concerning this he does two things:
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo dicit de quo est intentio;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo incipit prosequi suam intentionem, ibi: Democritus autem et Leucippus et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he states his intention;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he begins to carry it out, at 20.
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>As to the first he does two things:
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit suam intentionem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo suae intentionis rationem assignat, ibi: Plato igitur et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he states his intention;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he gives the reason for his intention, at 19.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod, quia antiqui philosophi dubitaverunt de differentia generationis et alterationis, dicendum est nobis in universali de <i>simplici generatione et corruptione</i>, idest secundum quam aliquid dicitur simpliciter generari et corrumpi; utrum scilicet generatio simpliciter est aut non. Nam secundum illos qui dicunt generationem ab alteratione differre, generatio simpliciter est: non est autem secundum eos qui earum differentiam negant. Et si est simpliciter generatio, dicendum quomodo est. Et similiter dicendum est de aliis motibus, qui ordinantur quodammodo ad generationem simplicem, ut supra dictum est, puta de alteratione et augmentatione.
<td>He says therefore first [18] that because the early philosophers doubted about the difference between generation and alteration, it is necessary for us to speak in a general way about simple generation and corruption, i.e., according to which something is said to be generated and corrupted absolutely [simpliciter], and to determine whether absolute generation exists or not. For according to those who declare that generation differs from alteration, absolute generation does not exist, but not for those who deny a difference between them. Moreover, if absolute generation does exist, we must explain how. And the same questions must be answered for the other motions that are in a certain way ordained to simple generation, such as alteration and growth, as was said above.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: Plato igitur etc., assignat rationem suae intentionis, ex eo quod alii philosophi de his insufficienter tractaverunt. Et dicit quod Plato inquisivit de generatione et corruptione tantum, quomodo sint in rebus: non tamen de omni generatione, sed solum de generatione elementorum, non autem quomodo generentur carnes et ossa, aut aliquod aliorum mixtorum corporum: neque etiam tractavit de alteratione et augmentatione, quomodo sint in rebus. Et universaliter nullus aliorum philosophorum dixit determinate aliquid praeter ea quae superficietenus apparent, nisi solus Democritus, qui videtur curam habuisse de omnibus diligenter inquirere. Sed iam differt quomodo inquisiverint: quia non sufficienter. Nullus enim, nec ipse nec alius, determinavit de augmentatione, ut ita sit dicere, quod etiam non quicumque idiota dicere posset, scilicet quod augmentatio fiat adveniente aliquo simili: sed quomodo per adventum similis aliquid augmentetur, hoc non dixerunt. Neque etiam aliquid dixerunt de mixtione, vel de aliquo aliorum consimili nullo, ut ita dicam; puta de facere et pati, scilicet quomodo hoc agat et hoc patiatur, secundum naturales operationes.
<td>19. Then [19] he assigns as the reason for his intention the fact that other philosophers have not adequately treated this matter. And he says that Plato investigated only the question of how generation and corruption occur in things, but in doing so he limited himself to generation of the elements and did not treat of how flesh and bones or any of the other mixed [i.e., composite] bodies are generated. Moreover, he neglected to discuss how alteration and growth exist in things. And in general, none of the other philosophers definitively stated anything except those things which appear on the surface — except Democritus, who seems to have been concerned to inquire diligently into every thing. But the basic difference is in the inquiry — none did so adequately. For none of them, neither he [Democritus], nor any other, said anything about growth, as to what it was, that any uneducated person could not have said, namely, that growth takes place by something akin to the original being added to it. But how something is increased by the addition of that which is similar, they did not say. Neither did they say anything of mixtures, nor of any of the similar things, so to speak — for example, of acting and being acted upon, namely, as to how, in terms of natural operation, this acts and that is acted upon.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: Democritus autem et Leucippus etc., incipit prosequi suum propositum.
<td>20. Then at [20] he begins to execute his plan.
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo determinat de generatione et alteratione, eo quod earum connexa est consideratio;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo determinat de augmentatione, ibi: de augmentatione autem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he determines about generation and alteration, since they should be studied together;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, about growth (L. 11).
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>About the first he does two things:
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit opiniones aliorum de generatione et alteratione;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo determinat de his secundum propriam opinionem, ibi: determinatis autem his et cetera.
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he gives other's opinions about generation and alteration;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he decides about them according to his own opinion (L. 6).
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>As to the first he does two things:
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo recitat opinionem Democriti, qui de omnibus curam habuit, ut dictum est;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo inquirit de veritate ipsius, ibi: quoniam autem videtur omnibus et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he states the opinion of Democritus, who had a concern for everything;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he examines the truth of his statements, at 22.
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>About the first he does two things:
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit opinionem Democriti;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo ponit rationem ipsius, ibi: quoniam autem existimabant et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he states Democritus' opinion;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he presents Democritus' argument, at 21.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod Democritus et Leucippus, qui faciebant principia rerum corpora indivisibilia infinitarum figurarum, ex his causabant generationem et alterationem. Dicebant enim quod per congregationem et segregationem dictorum corporum figuratorum, causabatur generatio et corruptio: per mutationem autem ordinis et positionis dictorum corporum, causabatur alteratio.
<td>He says therefore first [20] that Democritus and Leucippus, who constituted the principles of things out of indivisible bodies of infinite shapes, used them as causes of generation and alteration. For they said that through the aggregation and separation of such figured bodies generation and corruption were caused; while it was through a change in the order and position of the aforesaid bodies that alteration was caused.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: quoniam autem existimabant etc., assignat rationem praedictae positionis. Ad cuius evidentiam sciendum est quod, sicut dicit philosophus in IV Metaphys., quidam antiqui philosophi posuerunt verum esse in apparendo, ita scilicet quod quidquid videtur alicui, est verum; adeo quod etiam ponebant contradictoria simul esse vera, si diversis ita videtur.
<td>21. Then [21] he gives the reason for the aforesaid position. And the better to under this, it should be noted that, as the Philosopher says in Metaph. IV, some of the early philosophers made truth to be in the way things appear, namely, as a thing appeared to someone, so was its truth — even to the point of holding contradictories to be simultaneously true, if both sides seem so to different persons.
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<td>Hoc est ergo quod dicit, quod quia Democritus et Leucippus existimabant quod verum erat in apparendo, et diversis hominibus contraria apparent et infinita, ut ostendit multiplicitas opinionum quae est inter homines, ideo induxerunt infinitas figuras in primis rerum principiis, ut ex his ratio accipi possit infinitarum opinionum. Et inde est quod per transmutationem aliquam eius quod venit in compositionem alicuius totius, contingit quod idem videtur contrario modo se habere alii et alii; sicut propter diversum situm, collum columbae videtur esse alterius et alterius coloris. Et huiusmodi transmutatio situs aut ordinis fit per aliquod modicum quod supervenit: et, ut sit universaliter dicere, transmutato uno indivisibilium corporum, videtur aliud et aliud.
<td>So what the Philosopher says is that, because Democritus and Leucippus assumed that the true consists in appearance, and to different men contrary and infinite things appear, as the variety of opinions among men indicates, they therefore were led to posit infinite shapes in the first principles of things, in order to have an explanation for these infinite opinions. Consequently, any variation affecting something contributing to the composition of some whole, results in the same appearing one way to one and in a contrary way to another, — just as, from different vantage points, the color of a dove's neck seems to vary. Such a change of position or order is due to something slight that intervenes. Indeed, to state the matter generally, as one of these indivisible bodies changes [its position and order], the appearance of a thing changes.
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<td>Et ponit exemplum in sermonibus, quorum prima principia indivisibilia sunt litterae: ex eisdem autem litteris, transmutatis secundum ordinem aut positionem, fiunt diversi sermones, puta comoedia, quae est sermo de rebus urbanis, et tragoedia, quae est sermo de rebus bellicis. Igitur sic apparet ratio quare per variationem ordinis et positionis, dicebat Democritus alterationem causari.
<td>He gives an example of this in words, whose first indivisible principles are letters: by using the same letters and merely varying their order and position, different verbal compositions are produced, e.g., a comedy, concerned with pleasant things, and a tragedy, concerned with wars. This, then, is the reason why Democritus held that alteration is caused by a variation of order and position.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: quoniam autem videtur omnibus etc., inquirit veritatem huius opinionis.
<td>22. Then [22] he investigates the truth of this opinion.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo ostendit difficultatem circa haec existentem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo incipit inquirere veritatem, ibi: principium autem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he shows the difficulties inherent in such an investigation;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he begins to inquire into the truth, at 23.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod quia, iam pene abolitis opinionibus primorum naturalium, qui ponebant idem esse generationem et alterationem, omnibus fere videbatur tunc temporis quod aliud esset alteratio et generatio (ita scilicet quod generatio et corruptio esset per hoc quod aliqua congregantur et disgregantur, alteratio vero per hoc quod aliquorum transmutatione causantur diversae passiones), necesse est considerare, ut de his sciatur veritas. Habent enim haec quaestiones multas et rationabiles. Quia si generatio nihil est aliud quam congregatio, multa impossibilia contingunt, ut infra patebit: ex opposito autem inveniuntur aliae rationes, quae videntur cogentes et non de facili solubiles, quibus ostenditur quod non contingit aliter se habere quam quod generatio sit congregatio; ita scilicet quod, si generatio non sit congregatio, vel omnino non sit generatio, vel si est, quod sit idem quod alteratio. Et quamvis hoc sit difficile solvere, tamen debemus tentare solvere hanc difficultatem.
<td>He says therefore first [22] that by this time the opinions of the first natural philosophers who identified generation and alteration, were almost entirely abolished, and nearly everyone seemed to agree that generation is different from alteration (generation and corruption deriving from association and disassociation, while alteration arose when, by a change of certain things, diverse passions were caused). One must, then, consider these matters in order to arrive at the truth. But they involve many problems, and ones challenging reason. For, if generation is nothing more than association, many impossibilities follow, as will be plain below. On the other hand, there are found other arguments, which appear cogent and not easy to answer, for holding that generation is not different from association, concluding that, if generation is not admitted to be association, then either there is no generation at all, or if there is, it is identical with alteration. Now even though it is difficult to solve this problem, we ought to attempt it.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: principium autem etc., procedit ad solvendum praedictam difficultatem.
<td>23. Then [23] he proceeds to solve the difficulty.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo praemittit duas quaestiones, quae necessariae sunt ad solvendum praedictam difficultatem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo eas prosequitur, ibi: hoc quidem igitur et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he prefaces two questions that are necessary in solving the aforesaid difficulty;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he tackles them, at 24.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod principium ad solvendum omnia praedicta, oportet accipere ab hoc quod inquiratur primo quidem, utrum entia naturalia sic generentur et alterentur et augmententur et contrariis motibus moveantur, quod sint aliquae primae magnitudines indivisibiles, vel nulla est magnitudo indivisibilis: hoc enim multum differt ad propositum. Secundo autem oportet inquirere, si sunt aliquae magnitudines indivisibiles, utrum illae magnitudines sint corpora, sicut dixerunt Democritus et Leucippus, vel sint <i>planities</i>, idest superficies, sicut Plato scripsit in Timaeo.
<td>He says therefore first [23] that the starting point in solving all the aforesaid must be first of all an inquiry into whether natural beings are so generated and altered and augmented and moved by contrary motions, as to require certain primary indivisible magnitudes; or whether there is no indivisible magnitude. The answer to this is most important. Secondly, one must inquire whether, if there be indivisible magnitudes, they are bodies, as Democritus and Leucippus would have it, or are "planes," i.e., surfaces, as Plato set down in the <i>Timaeus</i>.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: hoc quidem igitur etc., prosequitur praemissas quaestiones.
<td>24. Then at [24] he pursues the aforesaid questions.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo prosequitur secundam, quam brevius pertransit;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo prosequitur primam, ibi: habet autem quaestionem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he pursues the second, which he covers more briefly;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he tackles the first (L. 4).
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>As to the first he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ostendit convenientius posuisse, quantum ad ea quae considerantur in scientia naturali, Democritum quam Platonem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo causam huius assignat, ibi: causa autem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he shows that as far as natural science is concerned Democritus' position is more fitting than Plato's;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he tells why, at 25.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod, sicut in III de caelo dictum est, inconveniens est hoc ipsum etiam secundum se consideratum, quod corpora naturalia resolvantur usque ad superficies: et ideo magis est rationabile, si sint aliquae magnitudines indivisibiles, ex quibus corpora naturalia componuntur, quod huiusmodi magnitudines indivisibiles sint corpora, quam quod sint superficies: quamvis et hoc ipsum multam irrationabilitatem habeat, scilicet quod sint aliqua corpora indivisibilia, ex quibus corpora naturalia componantur, sicut partim ostensum est in libro de caelo, et partim infra patebit. Sed tamen ideo est magis rationabile ponere corpora indivisibilia quam superficies, quia his qui ponunt corpora indivisibilia esse principia corporum naturalium, contingit assignare causam generationis et alterationis: quae quidem alteratio, sicut dictum est, transmutat aliquid unum et idem per quandam conversionem corporum indivisibilium, et per alium modum contactus secundum diversum situm et ordinem, et etiam secundum differentiam figurarum, sicut ponebat Democritus, assignans causam alterationis. Unde Democritus ponebat quod color et aliae huiusmodi qualitates naturales, non sint aliquid habens esse fixum in natura: sed quod aliquid videtur coloratum per quandam <i>conversionem</i>, idest per aliquam variationem corporum indivisibilium secundum ordinem et situm. Manifestum est enim quod quaedam nobis apparent, quorum apparentia causatur ex aliquo modo reflexionis secundum aliquem ordinem et situm, sicut forma quae apparet in speculo, et sicut colores iridis, et alia huiusmodi. Talia ergo existimabat esse Democritus omnes formas et qualitates rerum naturalium: et secundum hoc, suppositis suis principiis, ex diversitate positionis et ordinis causabat omnem diversitatem alterationis.
<td>He says therefore first [24] that, as was said in <i>On the Heavens</i> III, to resolve bodies into surfaces is unfitting even in itself. Consequently, it is more reasonable, if there should be certain indivisible magnitudes out of which natural bodies are composed, that these magnitudes be bodies rather than surfaces — although even this involves great irrationality, namely, that there be certain indivisible bodies, out of which natural bodies would be composed, as was shown in part in the book <i>On the Heavens</i> and as will be shown in part below. Nevertheless it is more reasonable to posit indivisible bodies rather than surfaces, because those who posit indivisible bodies as the principles of natural bodies do assign a cause of generation and alteration, which alteration, as has been said, transmutes some one and the same thing by a certain "turning" of the indivisible bodies and by some manner of contact according to different positions and orders, and also according to a difference of shapes, as Democritus posited in assigning the cause of alteration. Hence Democritus posited that color and other such natural qualities are not something with a fixed existence in nature, but that a thing appears to be colored through a certain "turning," i.e., through a certain variation of the indivisible bodies according to order and position. For it is plain that certain things appear to us whose appearance is produced by some sort of reflection according to a certain order and position — for example, the form that appears in a mirror, or the colors of a rainbow, and so on. Democritus supposed that all the forms and qualities of natural things to be of that nature. According to this and in the light of his principles, he explained every variety of alteration in terms of differences in position and order.
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<td>Sed Platonici, qui resolvebant corpora in superficies, non poterant assignare causam alicuius transmutationis formalis: quia ex superficiebus, quando componuntur adinvicem, nihil est rationabile fieri nisi solida. Cum enim puncta, lineae et superficies purae sint res mathematicae, non possunt causare ex seipsis aliquam passionem naturalem: unde, sicut ex punctis non fit nisi linea, et ex lineis non fit nisi superficies, ita ex superficiebus non potest causari nisi corpus. Sed nec ipsi Platonici conantur ad hoc quod ex commixtione superficierum assignent causam alicuius passionis naturalis.
<td>But the Platonists, who resolved bodies into planes, were unable to assign a cause for any change in form, for when planes are united one to the other, nothing but solids can reasonably result. Seeing that points, lines and pure planes are mathematical things, they cannot of themselves cause any natural quality. Consequently, just as from points only a line results and from lines a surface, so from surfaces the only thing that can be caused is a body. But not even the Platonists try to explain, by a mingling of surfaces, the cause of any natural quality.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: causa autem etc., assignat rationem quare circa hoc magis defecit Plato quam Democritus. Et dicit quod causa huius quod Plato minus potuit videre <i>confessa</i>, idest ea quae sunt omnibus manifesta, fuit inexperientia: quia scilicet, circa intelligibilia intentus, sensibilibus non intendebat, circa quae est experientia. Et ideo illi philosophi qui magis studuerunt circa res sensibiles et naturales, magis potuerunt adinvenire talia principia, quibus possent multa sensibilia adaptare. Sed Platonici, qui erant indocti <i>existentium</i>, idest circa entia naturalia et sensibilia, respicientes ad pauca sensibilium quae eis occurrebant, ex multis <i>sermonibus</i> vel rationibus, idest ex multis quae in universali rationaliter considerabant, <i>de facili enuntiant</i>, idest absque diligenti perscrutatione sententiam proferunt de rebus sensibilibus.
<td>25. Then [253 he shows why Plato failed more than Democritus in this matter. And he says that the reason why Plato could not see "confessed" things, i.e., things plain to all, was lack of experience; for, being intent on speculation, he did not turn his attention to sensible things, which are the basis of experience. Consequently, those philosophers who paid more attention to sensible and natural things were better able to discover principles to which they could adapt many facts of sense observation. But the Platonists who were untaught with respect to "existents," i.e., natural and sensible things, and considered solely the few sensible things that came their way, from many "discourses" or arguments, i.e., from many things they considered by reason on universal plane, "facilely enunciate," i.e., offer a judgment on sensible things without a diligent examination.
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<td>Potest autem considerari ex his quae prae manibus habentur, quantum differunt in perscrutatione veritatis illi qui considerant <i>physice</i>, idest naturaliter, attendentes rebus sensibilibus, ut Democritus, et illi qui considerant <i>logice</i>, idest rationaliter, attendentes communibus rationibus, sicut Platonici. Ad ostendendum enim quod magnitudines aliquae sunt indivisibiles, Platonici, logice procedentes, dicunt quod aliter sequeretur quod <i>autotrigonum</i>, idest per se triangulus, hoc est idea trianguli, <i>multa erit</i>, idest in multos triangulos dividetur: quod est inconveniens. Ponebat enim Plato omnium sensibilium esse quasdam ideas separatas, puta hominis et equi et similium, quas vocabat per se hominem et per se equum: quia scilicet, logice loquendo, homo, secundum quod est species, est praeter materialia et individualia principia, ita quod idea nihil habet nisi quod pertinet ad rationem speciei. Et eadem ratione hoc ponebat in figuris. Unde ponebat ideam triangulorum sensibilium, quae hic dicitur <i>autotrigonum</i>, esse indivisibilem: alioquin sequeretur quod divideretur in multa, quod est contra rationem ideae, ad quam pertinet quod sit unum praeter multa. Et ita non est inconveniens quod sint multae superficies triangulares indivisibiles conformes ideae: et eadem ratio est de aliis superficiebus.
<td>The matter at hand affords us an opportunity to consider the difference between seeking the truth "physically," i.e., naturally, by examining natural things, as Democritus did, and seeking it "logically," i.e., by reason, attending to common reasons, as the Platonists did. For, in order to prove that some magnitudes are indivisible, the Platonists, proceeding "logically," say that otherwise it would follow that the "autotrigonum," i.e., the " <i>per se</i> triangle," that is, the idea of triangle, will be manifold, i.e., divided into many triangles, which is unallowable. For Plato postulated that, of all sensible things, there were certain separated "ideas," for example, of man and horse and so on. These ideas he called " ear se man" and " <i>per se</i> horse," since, logically speaking, man, as a species, is something over and above material and individual principles, and thus, the "idea" contains nothing but what pertains to the notion of the species. And for the same reason he posited this in figures. Thus he posited the "idea" of sensible triangles, here called the "autotrigonum," to be indivisible — otherwise it would follow that it would be divided into many, which is contrary to the notion of idea, which requires that it be one existing outside the many. Thus it is not unacceptable for there to be many indivisible triangular surfaces conforming to the idea; and the same is true of other surfaces.
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<td>Sed Democritus videtur persuadere quod sint magnitudines indivisibiles, per rationes proprias et naturales, ut manifestum erit ex sequentibus.
<td>But Democritus is seen to argue for indivisible magnitudes, using proper and natural reasons, as will be plain in what follows.
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<hr>
<blockquote>
Lecture 4<br>
Democritus' argument that natural bodies are composed out of indivisible bodies
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<td colspan="2"><b>Chapter 2 cont.</b>
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἔχει γὰρ ἀπορίαν, εἴ τις θείη σῶμά τι εἶναι καὶ μέγεθος πάντῃ διαιρετόν, καὶ τοῦτο δυνατόν. Τί γὰρ ἔσται ὅπερ τὴν διαίρεσιν διαφεύγει; εἰ γὰρ πάντῃ διαιρετόν, καὶ τοῦτο δυνατόν, κἂν ἅμα εἴη τοῦτο πάντῃ διῃρημένον, καὶ εἰ μὴ ἅμα διῄρηται· κἂν εἰ τοῦτο γένοιτο, οὐδὲν ἂν εἴη ἀδύνατον.
<td>26 For to suppose that a body (i.e. a magnitude) is divisible through and through, and that this division is possible, involves a difficulty. What will there be in the body which escapes the division? If it is divisible through and through, and if this division is possible, then it might be, at one and the same moment, divided through and through, even though the dividings had not been effected simultaneously: and the actual occurrence of this result would involve no impossibility.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Οὐκοῦν καὶ κατὰ τὸ μέσον ὡσαύτως, καὶ ὅλως δέ, εἰ πάντῃ πέφυκε διαιρετόν, ἂν διαιρεθῇ, οὐδὲν ἔσται ἀδύνατον γεγονός, ἐπεὶ οὐδ' ἂν εἰς μυρία μυριάκις διῃρημένα ᾖ, οὐδὲν ἀδύνατον· καίτοι ἴσως οὐδεὶς ἂν διέλοι. Ἐπεὶ τοίνυν πάντῃ τοιοῦτόν ἐστι τὸ σῶμα, διῃρήσθω.
<td>27 Hence the same principle will apply whenever a body is by nature divisible through and through, whether by bisection, or generally by any method whatever: nothing impossible will have resulted if it has actually been divided—not even if it has been divided into innumerable parts, themselves divided innumerable times. Nothing impossible will have resulted, though perhaps nobody in fact could so divide it. Since, therefore, the body is divisible through and through, let it have been divided.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Τί οὖν ἔσται λοιπόν; μέγεθος; οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τε· ἔσται γάρ τι οὐ διῃρημένον, ἦν δὲ πάντῃ διαιρετόν. Ἀλλὰ μὴν εἰ μηδὲν ἔσται σῶμα μηδὲ μέγεθος, διαίρεσις δ' ἔσται, ἢ ἐκ στιγμῶν ἔσται, καὶ ἀμεγέθη ἐξ ὧν σύγκειται, ἢ οὐδὲν παντάπασιν, ὥστε κἂν γίνοιτο ἐκ μηδενὸς κἂν εἴη συγκείμενον, καὶ τὸ πᾶν δὴ οὐδὲν ἄλλ' ἢ φαινόμενον. Ὁμοίως δὲ κἂν ᾖ ἐκ στιγμῶν, οὐκ ἔσται ποσόν. Ὁπότε γὰρ ἥπτοντο καὶ ἓν ἦν μέγεθος καὶ ἅμα ἦσαν, οὐδὲν ἐποίουν μεῖζον τὸ πᾶν. Διαιρεθέντος γὰρ εἰς δύο καὶ πλείω, οὐδὲν ἔλαττον οὐδὲ μεῖζον τὸ πᾶν τοῦ πρότερον, ὥστε κἂν πᾶσαι συντεθῶσιν, οὐδὲν ποιήσουσι μέγεθος.
<td>28 What, then, will remain? A magnitude? No: that is impossible, since then there will be something not divided, whereas ex hypothesis the body was divisible through and through. But if it be admitted that neither a body nor a magnitude will remain, and yet division is to take place, the constituents of the body will either be points (i.e. without magnitude) or absolutely nothing. If its constituents are nothings, then it might both come-to-be out of nothings and exist as a composite of nothings: and thus presumably the whole body will be nothing but an appearance. But if it consists of points, a similar absurdity will result: it will not possess any magnitude. For when the points were in contact and coincided to form a single magnitude, they did not make the whole any bigger (since, when the body was divided into two or more parts, the whole was not a bit smaller or bigger than it was before the division): hence, even if all the points be put together, they will not make any magnitude.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ εἴ τι διαιρουμένου οἷον ἔκπρισμα (316b.) γίνεται τοῦ σώματος, καὶ οὕτως ἐκ τοῦ μεγέθους σῶμά τι ἀπέρχεται, ὁ αὐτὸς λόγος, ἐκεῖνο πῶς διαιρετόν.
<td>29 But suppose that, as the body is being divided, a minute section—a piece of sawdust, as it were—is extracted, and that in this sense—a body 'comes away' from the magnitude, evading the division. Even then the same argument applies. For in what sense is that section divisible?
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Εἰ δὲ μὴ σῶμα ἀλλ' εἶδός τι χωριστὸν ἢ πάθος ὃ ἀπῆλθεν, καὶ ἔστι τὸ μέγεθος στιγμαὶ ἢ ἁφαὶ τοδὶ παθοῦσαι, ἄτοπον ἐκ μὴ μεγεθῶν μέγεθος εἶναι.
<td>30 But if what 'came away' was not a body but a separable form or quality, and if the magnitude is 'points or contacts thus qualified': it is paradoxical that a magnitude should consist of elements, which are not magnitudes.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἔτι δὲ ποῦ ἔσονται, καὶ ἀκίνητοι ἢ κινούμεναι αἱ στιγμαί; ἁφή τε ἀεὶ μία δυοῖν τινων, ὡς ὄντος τινὸς παρὰ τὴν ἁφὴν καὶ τὴν διαίρεσιν καὶ τὴν στιγμήν. Εἰ δή τις θήσεται ὁτιοῦν ἢ ὁπηλικονοῦν σῶμα εἶναι πάντῃ διαιρετόν, πάντα ταῦτα συμβαίνει.
<td>31 Moreover, where will the points be? And are they motionless or moving? And every contact is always a contact of two somethings, i.e. there is always something besides the contact or the division or the point. These, then, are the difficulties resulting from the supposition that any and every body, whatever its size, is divisible through and through.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἔτι ἐὰν διελὼν συνθῶ τὸ ξύλον ἤ τι ἄλλο, πάλιν ἴσον τε καὶ ἕν. Οὐκοῦν οὕτως ἔχει δηλονότι κἂν τέμω τὸ ξύλον καθ' ὁτιοῦν σημεῖον. Πάντῃ ἄρα διῄρηται δυνάμει. Τί οὖν ἔστι παρὰ τὴν διαίρεσιν; εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἔστι τι πάθος, ἀλλὰ πῶς εἰς ταῦτα διαλύεται καὶ γίνεται ἐκ τούτων; ἢ πῶς χωρίζεται ταῦτα;
<td>32 There is, besides, this further consideration. If, having divided a piece of wood or anything else, I put it together, it is again equal to what it was, and is one. Clearly this is so, whatever the point at which I cut the wood. The wood, therefore, has been divided potentially through and through. What, then, is there in the wood besides the division? For even if we suppose there is some quality, yet how is the wood dissolved into such constituents and how does it come-to-be out of them? Or how are such constituents separated so as to exist apart from one another?
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<td style="font-family: palatino">ὥστ' εἴπερ ἀδύνατον ἐξ ἁφῶν ἢ στιγμῶν εἶναι τὰ μεγέθη, ἀνάγκη εἶναι σώματα ἀδιαίρετα καὶ μεγέθη. Οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ ταῦτα θεμένοις οὐχ ἧττον συμβαίνει ἀδύνατα. Ἔσκεπται δὲ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐν ἑτέροις.
<td>33 Since, therefore, it is impossible for magnitudes to consist of contacts or points, there must be indivisible bodies and magnitudes. Yet, if we do postulate the latter, we are confronted with equally impossible consequences, which we have examined in other works.
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</blockquote>
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<td>Postquam philosophus ostendit quod circa propositum opinio Democriti potior erat quam opinio Platonis, et ratio Democriti erat magis propria, ad hoc manifestandum inducit rationem Democriti.
<td>26. After showing that, with regard to the matter at hand, the opinion of Democritus is stronger than that of Plato, and that his argument is more appropriate, to show this, the Philosopher presents Democritus' argument.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo ponit eam;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo solvit, ibi: sed et haec tentandum est solvere et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he cites it;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he answers it (L. 5).
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>About the first he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit rationem Democriti, ducentem ad hoc impossibile, scilicet quod corpus sit <i>omnino</i> divisum, idest quantumcumque dividi potest;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo ostendit hoc esse impossibile, ibi: quid ergo erit et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he presents the argument of Democritus, which leads to the impossibility that a body can be wholly divided, i.e., divided as much as it can be divided;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he shows that this is impossible, at 29.
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>Concerning the first he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit rationem ducentem ad hoc impossibile;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo manifestat necessitatem dictae rationis, ibi: quapropter et secundum medium et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he presents the argument that leads to this impossibility;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he shows the necessity existing in this argument, at 28.
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<td>Circa primum considerandum quod oportet ponere corpus vel componi ex indivisibilibus, vel esse divisibile <i>omnino</i>, idest totaliter, secundum quodcumque signum. Et ideo Democritus, ad ostendendum quod corpus sit compositum ex indivisibilibus corporibus, conatur ostendere impossibile esse quod corpus sensibile, puta lignum aut lapis, sit divisibile <i>omnino</i>, idest secundum quodcumque signum datum in corpore. Et ideo dicit quod, si quis ponat aliquod corpus, puta sensibile, et magnitudinem quamcumque, puta superficiem vel lineam, divisibilem esse <i>omnino</i>, idest secundum quodcumque signum datum, et si ponatur hoc esse possibile, remanet quaestio: quid est illud quod <i>effugit divisionem</i>, idest quod remanet post divisionem? Necesse est enim quod, diviso quocumque divisibili, remaneant aliquae partes divisibiles, in quas fit divisio.
<td>27. With respect to the first [26] it should be observed that one must hold either that a body is composed of indivisibles, or that it is "wholly," i.e., totally, divisible, according to every sign [point]. And therefore Democritus, in order to show that a sensible body is composed of indivisible bodies, tries to show that it is impossible for a sensible body, such as wood or stone, to be "wholly" divisible, i.e., according to every given sign [i.e., point] in the body. Consequently, he says that if you posit that such a body (for example, a sensible body), or any magnitude whatsoever (for example, a surface or a line), is "wholly" divisible, i.e., with respect to every given sign, and this is considered possible, the question remains: "What is it that "escapes division," i.e., that remains after the division? For it is necessary that, when any divisible thing has been divided, there remain certain divisible parts, upon which division takes place.
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<td>Ideo autem dicit Democritus hoc habere quaestionem, quia, si corpus sit <i>omnino</i>, idest secundum totum, divisibile, et hoc sit possibile, consequens erit quod nihil prohibeat corpus esse simul divisum quantumcumque dividi potest, etsi divisio non fiat simul, sed successive; sicut si possibile est aliquem hominem pervenire ad aliquem locum, nihil prohibet eum pervenisse illuc, licet non simul, sed successive perveniat. Et si hoc ponatur, nullum impossibile debet sequi: quia possibili posito, non sequitur aliquod impossibile, secundum philosophum in I priorum.
<td>Democritus says that such a question arises because if the body is "wholly," i.e., in its entirety, divisible, and this is possible, then there will be nothing to prevent it from being at one time divided as far as it can, even though the division does not take place all at once but successively — just as, if a man can arrive at some particular place, there is nothing to prevent his having arrived there, even though he should not do so all at once, but successively. If this is granted, no impossibility should follow, because, when something possible is assumed, nothing impossible follows, according to the Philosopher in <i>Prior Analytics</i> I.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: quapropter et secundum medium etc., manifestat necessitatem praedictae rationis. Si enim ponatur aliquod corpus divisibile per medium, et ponatur esse divisum per medium, nullum sequitur inconveniens. Et hoc est quod dicit: <i>quapropter</i>, quia scilicet posito possibili nullum sequitur impossibile, similiter erit si aliquid ponatur esse divisibile et divisum secundum medium; et universaliter, si corpus est natum esse divisibile <i>omnino</i>, idest secundum quodcumque signum, <i>si dividatur</i>, idest si ponatur esse divisum, <i>nullum erit impossibile nascens</i>, idest ex hoc non debet impossibile nasci: quia neque si aliquid est divisibile in mille millia partium, et ponatur esse divisum, nullum sequitur impossibile, etsi nullus dividat actu.
<td>28. Then [27] he shows the necessity existing in the above argument. For if it should be granted that a body is divisible through the middle, and has been so divided, nothing impossible follows. And this is what he says: Hence, since, something possible having been laid down, nothing impossible follows, it will be something similar to this if something is supposed as divisible and actually divided in the middle. And universally, if a body is such as to be apt to be "wholly" divided, i.e., according to every sign [point], then "if it is divided;" i.e,, if it is assumed to have been so divided, "no impossibility will result,""i.e., from this nothing impossible should arise — any more than if something is divisible into a thousand times a thousand parts and we assume that it has been so divided, no impossibility follows, even if no one has actually divided it.
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<td>Et ita videtur quod, sive aliquod corpus sit divisibile in paucas partes sive in multas sive totaliter, non videtur sequi aliquod impossibile, si ponatur aliquid esse divisum inquantum est divisibile. Quia igitur, secundum ponentes corpus naturale non componi ex indivisibilibus corporibus, est divisibile <i>omnino</i>, idest secundum totum, ponatur esse secundum totum divisum. Sed hoc est impossibile: ergo et primum, scilicet quod sit divisibile secundum totum. Est ergo compositum ex indivisibilibus.
<td>Consequently, it seems that whether a body is divisible into a few parts or into a great many parts or totally, no impossibility seems to follow upon the assumption that it has been divided as far as it is divisible. Therefore, since, according to those who maintain that a natural body is not composed of indivisible bodies, it is totally divisible, let it be considered as totally divided. But this is impossible; therefore the first, namely, the assumption that it is totally divisible, is also impossible. Therefore, it is composed of indivisibles.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: quid ergo erit etc., ostendit esse impossibile quod corpus sit totaliter divisum, ex hoc quod non erit dare quid remaneat post divisionem.
<td>29. Then [28] he shows that it is impossible for a body to have been totally divided, on the ground that one cannot posit anything as remaining after the division.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Primo ergo ostendit quod non erit dare quid remaneat ex divisione, quae est principalis pars;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo quod non erit dare quid remaneat, quod ex incidenti sit elapsum, ibi: sed et si qua et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, therefore, he shows that one cannot give anything as remaining from the division as a principal part;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, that one cannot give anything as remaining that might have fallen out of the division, at 30.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo: si corpus ponatur omnino esse divisum, quaerendum restat quid erit <i>reliquum</i>, idest quod remanet post divisionem: sicut videmus remanere in omni divisione ea in quae divisum resolvitur.
<td>He says therefore first [28] that if a body is assumed to have been totally divided, it remains to ask what is "left," i.e., what remains after the division — as in every division we are wont to see the things into which the divided object was resolved.
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<td>Et primo ostendit quod non remaneat magnitudo. Hoc enim est impossibile: sequeretur enim quod adhuc remaneret divisibile non divisum, vel quod magnitudo esset aliquid non divisibile; dicebatur autem quod corpus erat omnino divisibile: et ita oportet quod id quod remanet post divisionem, nullo modo sit divisibile; cum tamen supponatur ab adversario quod magnitudo sit omnino divisibilis.
<td>First he shows that a magnitude will not remain. For such a thing is impossible — since it would follow that some divisible part not yet divided was remaining or that a magnitude was something not divisible. But it was said that body was wholly divisible. Consequently, what remains after division cannot be divisible in any way whatsoever, and it is being supposed by the adversary that the magnitude is wholly divisible.
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<td>Secundo concludit quod, si illud quod relinquitur post divisionem, neque sit corpus neque magnitudo, et tamen sit facta divisio secundum totum, sicut dictum est; relinquitur quod divisio erit aut ex punctis, ita quod corpus finaliter resolvetur in puncta, et per consequens ea ex quibus componitur corpus erunt sine magnitudine; aut sequitur quod id quod est residuum post divisionem, sit omnino nihil.
<td>Secondly, he concludes that, if what is left after division is neither a body nor a magnitude, and yet a total division was made, it remains that the division will either be out of points, in such a way that the body will be finally resolved into points, and consequently, the things from which a body is composed will lack dimensions, or else it follows that what remains after division is utterly nothing.
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<td>Tertio ostendit hoc secundum esse impossibile. Quia, cum unumquodque generetur ex his in quae resolvitur, si ergo resolvitur in nihil, sequetur quod etiam generetur ex nihil. Quod autem componitur ex nihilo, nihil est. Sequetur ergo quod corpus de quo agitur, sit nihil; et etiam totum universum eadem ratione; sed quidquid erit in rerum natura, erit secundum apparentiam tantum, et non secundum existentiam.
<td>Thirdly, he shows that the second alternative is impossible. For, since each thing is generated out of that into which it is resolved, then, if it is resolved into nothing, it will follow that it may be generated from nothing. But what is composed out of nothing, is nothing. It will follow, therefore, that the body in question is nothing, and for the same reason, the whole universe. Whatever there will be in nature will be there according to appearance only and not according to existence.
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<td>Quarto probatur primum praemissorum, scilicet quod non fiat resolutio in puncta. Quia similiter sequeretur quod sit corpus compositum ex punctis: et ita ulterius sequeretur quod non sit quantum ipsum corpus. Ante enim quam corpus divideretur, et puncta tangebant se, prout scilicet extrema duarum linearum sunt simul, et ex hoc erat una magnitudo continua, et simul erant omnia puncta, nondum distincta adinvicem, non faciebant totum maius: punctum enim nihil est aliud quam quaedam divisio partium lineae, ex hoc autem quod aliquid dividitur in duo vel plura, non efficitur totum nec maius nec minus quam prius fuerit: ita enim corpus parvum, sicut magnum, potest dividi in duo vel plura. Et sic patet quod puncta, quae nihil aliud sunt quam divisiones, non faciunt aliquid maius. Unde relinquitur quod, si puncta componantur adinvicem, non faciunt aliquid maius. Sic igitur videtur esse impossibile quod corpus sit omnino divisum: quia non potest assignari quid sit residuum divisionis, tanquam principalis pars corporis divisi.
<td>Fourthly, he proves the first alternative set down above, namely, that there is not resolution into points. For then it would likewise follow that a body is composed of points and it would further follow that the body would not be quantified. For, before the body was divided, and the points were in contact, in the way that the extremities of two lines are together, so as to form a single continuous magnitude, and the points were all together and not yet set off from each other, they did not make a greater whole. For a point is nothing other than a certain division of the parts of a line. By the fact of a thing's being divided into two or more, the whole is not made either greater or less than it was previously, A small body, just as a large one, may be divided into two or more. Thus it is plain that points, which are nothing but divisions, do not make anything greater. Hence it remains that if the points are assembled, they do not make anything greater. Consequently, it is seen to be impossible for a body to be divided through and through, because it is impossible to assign anything that remains as the residue of division, as a principal part of the divided body.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: sed et si qua etc., ostendit quod non potest assignari quid residuum divisionis, tanquam aliquid quod elabitur.
<td>30. Then [29] he shows that it is impossible to show some residue of division on the hypothesis of something "falling out."
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo ostendit quod tale aliquid non potest esse corpus;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo ostendit quod non potest esse quodcumque incorporeum, ibi: si autem non est corpus et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he shows that such a thing cannot be a body;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, that it cannot be something incorporeal, at 31.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod si, divisa totaliter magnitudine corporea divisi corporis, fiat quasi aliqua rasura serrae, quae elabitur ex divisione, praeter principales partes in quas lignum dividitur; et dicatur quod ex magnitudine corporali totaliter divisa egrediatur aliquod corpus, quasi residuum; sequetur idem sermo qui et supra: quomodo scilicet sustineri poterit quod illud corpus sit adhuc divisibile, secundum ponentes nullum corpus esse indivisibile, cum positum sit corpus naturale esse divisum omnino.
<td>He says therefore first [29] that if, the whole bodily magnitude of the divided body having been divided, something comparable to a piece of sawdust should be produced, which falls out by reason of the division apart from the principal parts into which the wood is divided, and one should say that out of the wholly divided bodily magnitude some body comes out as though a residue, there follows the same argument as above — namely, how can those hold that body to be still divisible who hold no body to be indivisible and one is holding a natural body to be wholly divided?
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: si autem non est corpus etc., ostendit quod huiusmodi residuum non potest esse aliquod incorporeum quodcumque; et hoc tribus rationibus. Circa quarum primam dicit quod, si id quod egreditur a magnitudine totaliter divisa non sit corpus, sed aliqua <i>species</i>, idest forma, <i>segregabilis</i>, idest separabilis a subiecto, aut etiam aliqua passio, sicut posuit Anaxagoras passiones et habitus separari et commisceri; et se habet huiusmodi passio secedens a magnitudine, per modum puncti vel tactus; illi qui hoc ponunt, patiuntur primo quidem hoc inconveniens, quod magnitudo componatur ex non magnitudinibus. Quod videtur inconveniens: nam unumquodque constituitur ex rebus sui generis; non enim colores componuntur ex figuris, nec e converso.
<td>31. Then [30] he shows that such a residue cannot be any incorporeal thing, for three reasons. With regard to the first he says that if what slipped away from the totally divided magnitude is not a body but some "species," i.e., a form "segregatable," i.e., separable from the subject or also, as Anaxagoras says, some passion, since he taught that passions and habits can be separated and combined, and this passion which leaves a magnitude is after the manner of a point or contact, those who posit this fall first of all into this impossibility, namely, that a magnitude is composed of non-magnitudes. This is seen to be untenable, for each thing is constituted out of the things of its genus — colors are not composed from figures, nor conversely.
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<td>Secundam rationem ponit ibi: amplius autem et cetera. Circa quod considerandum est quod quidam posuerunt lineam componi ex punctis. Et potest poni dupliciter: scilicet uno modo ex punctis motis, sicut quidam dixerunt quod punctus motus constituit lineam, et linea mota constituit superficiem, et superficies mota corpus; alio modo potest poni quod ex punctis etiam non motis constituatur magnitudo, sicut ex partibus.
<td>32. He presents the second reason[31], in regard to which it should be noted that certain ones maintained that a line is composed out of points. This can be in two ways: in one way, out of moved points, in the sense of those who suppose that a point in motion forms a line, and a line in motion forms a plane, and a plane in motion a body; in another way, out of points not moved, so that a magnitude is composed out of points as out of parts.
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<td>Utrolibet autem modo magnitudo componatur ex punctis, oportebit assignare <i>ubi sint</i> puncta, idest quem situm habeant in magnitudine: est enim assignare de singulis partibus ex quibus componitur magnitudo. Sed hoc non potest assignari. Quia punctus non videtur esse aliud in magnitudine, quam ut quidam tactus lineae continuae, vel divisio partium lineae iam divisae. Tactus autem semper est unus quorundam duorum, quae scilicet sunt partes magnitudinis habentes determinatum situm in magnitudine: quasi illud quod est pars magnitudinis habens determinatum situm inter partes eius, sit aliquid praeter ipsum tactum et divisionem, et per consequens praeter punctum. Non ergo videtur esse possibile quod magnitudo dividatur in puncta vel tactus aut divisiones. Si ergo aliquis ponat quodcumque corpus, aut quantamcumque quantitatem, esse omnino divisibilem, continget hoc inconveniens quod nunc dictum est.
<td>However, in whichever of these two ways a magnitude is supposed to be composed of points, one will have to designate "where" the points are, i.e., what position they occupy in the magnitude, as can be done for each part of which a magnitude is composed. But [in this case] this cannot be designated, for a point is seen to be nothing other in a magnitude than a certain contact of a continuous line, or the division of the parts of a line that has been divided. But contact is always one [contact] of some certain two which, namely, are parts of a magnitude, possessing definite positions in a magnitude — as though that which is a part of the magnitude, having a definite position among its parts, is something over and above the contact and the division, and consequently something over and above the point. It is not therefore seen as possible that a magnitude be divided into points or contacts or divisions. If, therefore, someone should posit any body, or any quantity, to be wholly divisible, there will occur this unacceptable consequence which has been stated.
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<td>Tertiam rationem ponit ibi: amplius si et cetera. Et dicit quod si, postquam divisero lignum vel quodcumque aliud corpus, iterum ex eisdem partibus compono ipsum, fiet aequale et unum corpus: quia scilicet eadem sunt in quae aliquid dividitur, et ex quibus componitur. Unde videtur similiter se habere si divido lignum <i>secundum quodcumque signum</i> (quod supra dixit <i>omnino</i>), ut scilicet ex his in quae dividitur, possit iterum componi. Sit ergo lignum <i>omnino divisum potestate</i>, idest in omnia in quae poterat dividi: quid igitur erit praeter divisionem? Quia oportet omnem divisionem ad aliquid terminari. Si enim dicatur quod id quod est residuum divisioni, sit aliqua passio, sequeretur quod corpus divideretur in passiones; et ex consequenti generabitur ex eis, quod est impossibile; quia neque substantia neque quantitas generatur ex passionibus. Aut etiam quomodo est possibile quod passiones sint separatae?
<td>33. He presents the third reason [32] and says that if after having divided a piece of wood or any other body, I put it together regain out of the same parts, an equal and single body will be produced, since the things into which something is divided, and out of which it is composed are the same. Hence the case seems to be the same if I divide the wood according to "any sign [point] whatever" (which he above referred to as "wholly") so that, out of those things into which it is divided, it may be again composed. Let the wood then have been "wholly divided in potency," i.e., into all that into which it can be divided. What then will remain beyond the division? For every division must terminate at something. If we should say that the residue of the division is some passion, it would follow that the body would have been divided into passions — and consequently, will be generated out of them, which is impossible. For neither substance nor quantity is generated out of passions. Or how are passions able to be separated"?
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<td>Ulterius autem concludit principale propositum, dicens quod, si impossibile est quod magnitudo componatur ex tactibus aut punctis, sicut praedictae rationes concludunt, necesse est ponere quod sint quaedam corpora indivisibilia, et quod sint quaedam magnitudines indivisibiles: quia, si corpus sit omnino divisibile, sequeretur quod componatur ex tactibus vel ex punctis, ut ex dictis patet.
<td>He further concludes his principal proposition [33] saying that, if it is impossible that a magnitude be composed out of contacts or points, as the aforesaid arguments conclude, one must posit that there are certain indivisible bodies, and certain indivisible magnitudes — for, if a body should be wholly divisible, it would follow that it would be composed out of contacts or out of points, as is evident from what has been said.
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<td>Ulterius autem, post rationem Democriti, subiungit Aristoteles quod hoc ponentibus, scilicet esse corpora indivisibilia, non minus accidit impossibile: et de hoc perscrutatum est in aliis, scilicet in III de caelo.
<td>Further still, after presenting the arguments of Democritus, Aristotle adds that, likewise for those who posit this, namely, the existence of indivisible bodies, no less an impossibility follows; and this was examined elsewhere, namely, in <i>On the Heavens</i> III.
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<hr>
<blockquote>
Lecture 5<br>
Resolution of Democritus' argument
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<td colspan="2"><b>Chapter 2 cont.</b>
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πειρατέον λύειν· διὸ πάλιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς τὴν ἀπορίαν λεκτέον.
<td>34 But we must try to disentangle these perplexities, and must therefore formulate the whole problem over again.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Τὸ μὲν οὖν ἅπαν σῶμα αἰσθητὸν εἶναι διαιρετὸν καθ' ὁτιοῦν σημεῖον καὶ ἀδιαίρετον οὐδὲν ἄτοπον· τὸ μὲν γὰρ δυνάμει διαιρετόν, τὸ δ' ἐντελεχείᾳ ὑπάρξει.
<td>35 On the one hand, then, it is in no way paradoxical that every perceptible body should be indivisible as well as divisible at any and every point. For the second predicate will attach to it potentially, but the first actually.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Τὸ δ' εἶναι ἅμα πάντῃ διαιρετὸν δυνάμει ἀδύνατον δόξειεν ἂν εἶναι. Εἰ γὰρ δυνατόν, κἂν γένοιτο, οὐχ ὥστε εἶναι ἅμα ἄμφω ἐντελεχείᾳ ἀδιαίρετον καὶ διῃρημένον, ἀλλὰ διῃρημένον καθ' ὁτιοῦν σημεῖον. Οὐδὲν ἄρα ἔσται λοιπόν, καὶ ἀσώματον ἐφθαρμένον τὸ σῶμα, καὶ γίνοιτο δ' ἂν πάλιν ἤτοι ἐκ στιγμῶν ἢ ὅλως ἐξ οὐδενός. Καὶ τοῦτο πῶς δυνατόν; ἀλλὰ μὴν ὅτι γε διαιρεῖται εἰς χωριστὰ καὶ ἀεὶ εἰς ἐλάττω μεγέθη καὶ εἰς ἀπέχοντα καὶ κεχωρισμένα, φανερόν. Οὔτε δὴ κατὰ μέρος διαιροῦντι εἴη ἂν ἄπειρος ἡ θρύψις, οὔτε ἅμα οἷόν τε διαιρεθῆναι κατὰ πᾶν σημεῖον (οὐ γὰρ δυνατόν), ἀλλὰ μέχρι του. Ἀνάγκη ἄρα ἄτομα ἐνυπάρχειν μεγέθη ἀόρατα,
<td>36 On the other hand, it would seem to be impossible for a body to be, even potentially, divisible at all points simultaneously. For if it were possible, then it might actually occur, with the result, not that the body would simultaneously be actually both (indivisible and divided), but that it would be simultaneously divided at any and every point. Consequently, nothing will remain and the body will have passed-away into what is incorporeal: and so it might come-to-be again either out of points or absolutely out of nothing. And how is that possible? But now it is obvious that a body is in fact divided into separable magnitudes which are smaller at each division—into magnitudes which fall apart from one another and are actually separated. Hence (it is urged) the process of dividing a body part by part is not a 'breaking up' which could continue ad infinitum; nor can a body be simultaneously divided at every point, for that is not possible; but there is a limit, beyond which the 'breaking up' cannot proceed.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">ἄλλως τε καὶ εἴπερ ἔσται γένεσις καὶ φθορὰ ἡ μὲν διακρίσει ἡ δὲ συγκρίσει. Ὁ μὲν οὖν ἀναγκάζειν δοκῶν (317a.) λόγος εἶναι μεγέθη ἄτομα οὗτός ἐστιν·
<td>37 The necessary consequence—especially if coming-to-be and passing-away are to take place by 'association' and 'dissociation' respectively—is that a body must contain atomic magnitudes which are invisible.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">ὅτι δὲ λανθάνει παραλογιζόμενος, καὶ ᾗ λανθάνει, λέγωμεν. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἔστι στιγμὴ στιγμῆς ἐχομένη, τὸ πάντῃ εἶναι διαιρετὸν ἔστι μὲν ὡς ὑπάρχει τοῖς μεγέθεσιν, ἔστι δ' ὡς οὔ. Δοκεῖ δ', ὅταν τοῦτο τεθῇ, καὶ ὁπῃοῦν καὶ πάντῃ στιγμὴν εἶναι, ὥστ' ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι διαιρεθῆναι τὸ μέγεθος εἰς μηδέν· πάντῃ γὰρ εἶναι στιγμήν, ὥστε ἢ ἐξ ἁφῶν ἢ ἐκ στιγμῶν εἶναι. Τὸ δ' ἐστὶν ὡς ὑπάρχει πάντῃ, ὅτι μία ὁπῃοῦν ἐστι, καὶ πᾶσαι ὡς ἑκάστη· πλείους δὲ μιᾶς οὐκ εἰσίν· ἐφεξῆς γὰρ οὐκ εἰσίν, ὥστ' οὐ πάντῃ· εἰ γὰρ κατὰ μέσον διαιρετόν, καὶ κατ' ἐχομένην στιγμὴν ἔσται διαιρετόν· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐχόμενον σημεῖον σημείου ἢ στιγμὴ στιγμῆς. Τοῦτο δ' ἐστὶ διαίρεσις ἢ σύνθεσις. Ὥστ' ἔστι καὶ διάκρισις καὶ σύγκρισις, ἀλλ' οὔτ' εἰς ἄτομα καὶ ἐξ ἀτόμων (πολλὰ γὰρ τὰ ἀδύνατα) οὔτε οὕτως ὥστε πάντῃ διαίρεσιν γενέσθαι (εἰ γὰρ ἦν ἐχομένη στιγμὴ στιγμῆς, τοῦτ' ἂν ἦν), ἀλλ' εἰς μικρὰ καὶ ἐλάττω ἐστί, καὶ σύγκρισις ἐξ ἐλαττόνων.
<td>38 Such is the argument which is believed to establish the necessity of atomic magnitudes: we must now show that it conceals a faulty inference, and exactly where it conceals it. For, since point is not 'immediately-next' to point, magnitudes are 'divisible through and through' in one sense, and yet not in another. When, however, it is admitted that a magnitude is 'divisible through and through', it is thought there is a point not only anywhere, but also everywhere, in it: hence it is supposed to follow, from the admission, that the magnitude must be divided away into nothing. For it is supposed—there is a point everywhere within it, so that it consists either of contacts or of points. But it is only in one sense that the magnitude is 'divisible through and through', viz. in so far as there is one point anywhere within it and all its points are everywhere within it if you take them singly one by one. But there are not more points than one anywhere within it, for the points are not 'consecutive': hence it is not simultaneously 'divisible through and through'. For if it were, then, if it be divisible at its centre, it will be divisible also at a point 'immediately-next' to its centre. But it is not so divisible: for position is not 'immediately-next' to position, nor point to point—in other words, division is not 'immediately-next' to division, nor composition to composition. Hence there are both 'association' and 'dissociation', though neither (a) into, and out of, atomic magnitudes (for that involves many impossibilities), nor (b) so that division takes place through and through—for this would have resulted only if point had been 'immediately-next' to point: but 'dissociation' takes place into small (i.e. relatively small) parts, and 'association' takes place out of relatively small parts.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡ ἁπλῆ καὶ τελεία γένεσις συγκρίσει καὶ διακρίσει ὥρισται, ὥς τινές φασιν, τὴν δ' ἐν τῷ συνεχεῖ μεταβολὴν ἀλλοίωσιν. Ἀλλὰ τοῦτ' ἔστιν ἐν ᾧ σφάλλεται πάντα. Ἔστι γὰρ γένεσις ἁπλῆ καὶ φθορὰ οὐ συγκρίσει καὶ διακρίσει, ἀλλ' ὅταν μεταβάλλῃ ἐκ τοῦδε εἰς τόδε ὅλον. Οἱ δὲ οἴονται ἀλλοίωσιν πᾶσαν εἶναι τὴν τοιαύτην μεταβολήν· τὸ δὲ διαφέρει. Ἐν γὰρ τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ τὸ μέν ἐστι κατὰ τὸν λόγον, τὸ δὲ κατὰ τὴν ὕλην. Ὅταν μὲν οὖν ἐν τούτοις ᾖ ἡ μεταβολή, γένεσις ἔσται ἢ φθορά, ὅταν δ' ἐν τοῖς πάθεσι καὶ κατὰ συμβεβηκός, ἀλλοίωσις.
<td>39 It is wrong, however, to suppose, as some assert, that coming-to-be and passing-away in the unqualified and complete sense are distinctively defined by 'association' and 'dissociation', while the change that takes place in what is continuous is 'alteration'. On the contrary, this is where the whole error lies. For unqualified coming-to-be and passing-away are not effected by 'association' and 'dissociation'. They take place when a thing changes, from this to that, as a whole. But the philosophers we are criticizing suppose that all such change is 'alteration': whereas in fact there is a difference. For in that which underlies the change there is a factor corresponding to the definition and there is a material factor. When, then, the change is in these constitutive factors, there will be coming-to-be or passing-away: but when it is in the thing's qualities, i.e. a change of the thing per accidents, there will be 'alteration'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Διακρινόμενα δὲ καὶ συγκρινόμενα εὔφθαρτα γίνεται. Ἐὰν μὲν γὰρ εἰς ἐλάττω ὑδάτια διαιρεθῇ, θᾶττον ἀὴρ γίνεται, ἐὰν δὲ συγκριθῇ, βραδύτερον. Μᾶλλον δ' ἔσται δῆλον ἐν τοῖς ὕστερον.
<td>40 'Dissociation' and 'association' affect the thing's susceptibility to passing-away. For if water has first been 'dissociated' into smallish drops, air comes-to-be out of it more quickly: while, if drops of water have first been 'associated', air comes-to-be more slowly. Our doctrine will become clearer in the sequel.'
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Νῦν δὲ τοσοῦτον διωρίσθω, ὅτι ἀδύνατον εἶναι τὴν γένεσιν σύγκρισιν, οἵαν δή τινές φασιν.
<td>41 Meantime, so much may be taken as established—viz. that coming-to-be cannot be 'association', at least not the kind of 'association' some philosophers assert it to be.
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<td>Praemissa ratione Democriti, hic procedit ad eius solutionem.
<td>34. Having presented Democritus' argument, he [the Philosopher] now proceeds to answer it.
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<td>Et primo exponit de quo est intentio: dicens quod tentandum est solvere praedictam dubitationem. Et ideo, ut melius solvatur, oportet a principio repetere quaestionem: ostenso enim breviter in quo virtus quaestionis consistat, facilius apparebit ubi debeat adhiberi solutio.
<td>First he states his intention [34], saying that one must attempt to solve the aforesaid problem. Consequently, the better to solve it, the question must be review from the very beginning, for when one gets a brief look at what the force of the question consists in, the easier it will be seen where to apply the solution.
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<td>Secundo ibi: omne quidem igitur etc., prosequitur intentum.
<td>Secondly, at [35] he carries out his proposal.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo ponit veritatem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo ponit obiectiones Democriti contra veritatem, ibi: esse autem potestate simul etc.;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">tertio solvit, ibi: quoniam autem latet et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he presents the truth;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he presents Democritus' objections against the truth, at 37;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Thirdly, he answers them, at 38.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod non est inconveniens dicere utrumque horum, scilicet quod omne corpus sensibile sit divisibile secundum quodcumque signum (quod supra dixerat <i>omnino</i>), vel quod non sit divisibile. Alterum enim horum in potentia est verum, scilicet quod corpus sensibile sit divisibile secundum quodcumque signum: alterum vero horum est verum secundum <i>entelechiam</i>, idest secundum actum, scilicet quod corpus sensibile non sit divisibile secundum quodcumque signum in actu.
<td>35. He says therefore first [35] that it is not inadmissible to maintain both of these statements, namely, that every sensible body is divisible with respect to any and every sign [point] (denominated above as being "wholly" divisible), or that it is not divisible. For one of these is true in potency, namely, that a sensible body is divisible with respect to any and every sign; the other is true in "entelechy," i.e., in act, namely, that a sensible body is not divisible according to every sign in act.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: esse autem potestate simul etc., ponit duas rationes Democriti contra praedictam veritatem. Circa quarum primam dicit quod, secundum obiectionem Democriti, videtur impossibile esse quod corpus sensibile sit simul divisibile in potentia <i>omnino</i>, idest secundum quodcumque signum, sicut nuper dictum est. Credebat enim Democritus quod quidquid esset simul in potentia, posset esse simul in actu: et argumentabatur, sicut est possibile simul in potentia corpus sensibile omnino dividi, quod hoc fieret in actu; non quidem ita quod esset simul in potentia divisibile et actu divisum, sed quod esset simul divisum actu, secundum quodcumque signum. Sed hoc ostendebat esse impossibile: quia, sicut ex supra dictis patet, sequeretur quod nihil corporeum esset residuum a divisione, et quod corpus corrumperetur in incorporeum, et ex consequenti quod corpus generaretur ex aliquo incorporeo, idest aut ex punctis aut omnino ex nihilo. Sed hoc est impossibile. Non ergo est possibile quod corpus sensibile sit omnino divisum simul. Neque ergo videtur possibile quod sit omnino divisibile in potentia.
<td>36. Then at [36] he presents Democritus' two arguments against this truth. Concerning the first of these, he [Aristotle] says that according to Democritus' objection it seems impossible for a sensible body to be all at once "wholly" divisible in potency, as was said above. For Democritus believed that whatever could be all at one time in potency, could be all at one time in act, and he argued that, just as it is possible for a body to be all at one time wholly divided in potency, this could also take place in act — not in the sense that it would be at one and the same time potentially divisible and actually divided, but in the sense that it would be divided in act according to every point. But this he showed to be impossible, because as is evident from what was said above, it would follow that nothing bodily would be left as a residue of division, and that the body would be dissolved into something incorporeal, and as a consequence a body would be generated from something incorporeal, i.e., from points or from absolute nothing. But this is impossible. Therefore it is not possible for a sensible body to be all at one time wholly divided. Neither, then, could it have been potentially so divisible.
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<td>Sed quia videmus ad sensum quod corpus sensibile dividitur in partes abinvicem separabiles vel etiam in partes divisibiles, et maior magnitudo semper dividitur in minores magnitudines, et totum coniunctum dividitur in aliqua segregata et separata; manifestum est hoc ita se habere. Non ergo est possibile neque quod fiat divisio in infinitum <i>secundum partem</i>, ita scilicet quod pars post partem a toto sensibili corpore separetur: neque est possibile quod corpus sensibile dividatur simul secundum quodcumque signum (neutrum enim horum est possibile, quia utrobique videtur sequi praedictum inconveniens): sed videtur quod divisio corporis sensibilis possit procedere usque ad aliquem terminum. Unde sequitur quod necesse sit aliquas magnitudines esse indivisibiles, et aliqua corpora indivisibilia, secundum Democritum.
<td>But because our senses reveal that a sensible body is divided into parts that can be separated one from the other or even into divisible parts, and that a larger magnitude is always divided into smaller magnitudes, and that a connected whole is divided into separate and isolated parts, it is evident that that is the way things are. It is therefore not possible for there to be division to infinity "according to part," in such a way, namely, that part after part be separated from the whole sensible body; neither is it possible for a sensible body to be divided all at one time according to every sign. (Neither of these is possible since in both cases the same impossible situation occurs.) But one sees that the division of a sensible body can proceed up to a certain limit. Hence it follows that there must be certain indivisible magnitudes and certain indivisible bodies, according to Democritus.
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<td>Secundam rationem ponit ibi: et aliter et cetera. Et dicit quod aliter etiam videtur esse necessarium esse corpora indivisibilia, scilicet si generatio sit per congregationem, et corruptio per segregationem. Et hoc quidem necessarium erat ponere Democrito, quia ponebat formas et naturas rerum determinari secundum positionem et ordinem: videmus autem quod totum cuius forma consistit in positione et ordine, sicut domus, non generatur nisi congregatione, neque corrumpitur nisi segregatione. Et ideo, cum non sit possibile in principiis generationis et corruptionis procedere in infinitum, ponebat quod essent aliqua principia prima, ex quibus corpora congregabantur, et in quae segregabantur. Et huiusmodi dicebat esse corpora indivisibilia.
<td>37. The second objection of Democritus] is presented [37], in which he says that, for another reason also, it seems to be necessary that there be indivisible bodies, namely, if generation comes about through assembling, and corruption through separation. And Democritus was forced to posit this, because he laid down that the forms and natures of things are determined on the basis of position and order; for we see that a whole whose form consists in position and order, as for example a house, is generated only by assembling, and destroyed only by separating. Consequently, since it is not possible to proceed to infinity with regard to principles of generation and corruption, he laid down that there were certain first principles from which bodies are assembled and into which they are separated, And he said the indivisible bodies were such things.
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<td>Sic igitur Aristoteles epilogando concludit quod praedictus sermo est, qui videtur cogere ad ponendum magnitudines indivisibiles.
<td>Aristotle, summing up, concludes that the aforesaid exposition is that which seems to compel us to hold for indivisible magnitudes.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: quoniam autem latet etc., solvit praedictas rationes:
<td>38. Then [38] he answers the aforesaid arguments.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">et primo primam;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo secundam, ibi: sed non simplex et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, the first one;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, the second one, at 40.
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<td>Circa primum est considerandum quod tota virtus primae rationis Democriti in hoc consistit, quod si corpus sensibile est simul omnino divisibile in potentia, quod sit simul omnino divisum actu. Sed haec consequentia non tenet in omnibus. Quaedam enim sunt, de quorum ratione est esse in potentia: unde in talibus non potest poni esse simul in actu quod est simul in potentia, quia auferretur ratio et natura illius rei.
<td>With respect to the first [38] it should be noted that the whole force of Democritus' first argument lies in this, that if a sensible body is all at one time wholly divisible in potency, it is all at one time wholly divided in act. But this consequent does not hold in all things. For there are some things in which to be in potency enters into their very notion. Hence in such things it is not possible to posit that to be all at one time in act which is all at one time in potency, since it would remove the very notion and nature of that thing.
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<td>Quod quidem primo manifestum est in successivis. In prima enim parte diei simul possibile est esse horas diei: non tamen potest poni quod omnes horae illius diei sint simul actu; auferretur enim natura temporis, de cuius ratione est quod sit numerus motus secundum prius et posterius; si enim esset simul quaelibet pars eius, iam non esset secundum prius et posterius.
<td>This is manifest first of all in successive things. For, in the beginning of a day, it is possible all at one time for the hours to be, but it is impossible to posit all the hours of that day to exist all at one time in act, because that would destroy the very nature of time, in whose notion there is that it be the number of motion according to prior and subsequent. If all its parts existed at once, it would not be according to prior and subsequent.
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<td>Secundo apparet hoc in permanentibus. De substantia enim aeris est materia, quae est in potentia ad omnes formas: tamen non potest poni quod ex aere sit generatum quidquid ex eo potest generari; quia iam tolleretur natura materiae, quae semper est in potentia ad omnes formas. Sic igitur contra rationem magnitudinis, ut puta lineae, est, quod sit simul omnino actu divisa: unde non sequitur, si est simul omnino divisibilis in potentia, quod possit poni simul omnino actu divisa.
<td>Secondly, it appears in permanent things. For in the substance of air is matter, which is in potency to all forms, yet it cannot be posited that whatever can be generated from air has been generated therefrom. That would destroy the very nature of matter, which is always in potency to all forms. Consequently, it is against the notion of magnitude, for example, of a line, that it be at any time wholly divided in act. Therefore, from the fact that it is all at one time wholly divisible in potency, it does not follow that it can be posited as all at one time divided in act.
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<td>Quod hoc sit contra rationem lineae, patet. Nam divisio lineae in actu nihil aliud est quam punctus in actu: si ergo linea esset simul omnino in actu divisa, oporteret quod punctus esset ubique in actu in linea, et ita oporteret quod puncti essent contigui vel consequenter se habentes in linea. Hoc autem non potest esse: quia, cum puncta sint indivisibilia, multorum punctorum contiguorum unum non excederet aliud, quia unum tangeret aliud secundum se totum; et ita omnes puncti non essent nisi unus punctus. Non ergo potest esse quod puncti sint ubique in actu in linea: et ita contra rationem lineae est quod sit simul omnino divisa in actu. Et ita non sequitur quod, si sit simul divisibilis omnino in potentia, quod possit poni omnino esse divisa in actu.
<td>That such a thing is against the notion of a line is plain. For the division of a line in act is nothing more than a point in act. If, therefore, a line were all at one time wholly divided in act, it would be necessary for a point to be everywhere in act in the line and, consequently, the points would have to be contiguous or consecutive in the line. But this cannot be: because, since points are indivisible, given many contiguous points, one would not extend beyond another, for one would touch another in its entirety. Thus all the points taken together would amount only to one point. Therefore, it cannot be said that the points are everywhere in act in the line. Consequently, it is against the notion of a line that it be all at one time wholly divided in act. And therefore it does not follow that, if something be all at one time wholly divisible in potency, one can posit it to be wholly divided in act.
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<td>Dicit ergo philosophus quod Democritus <i>latet paralogizans</i>, idest facit paralogismum latentem; et ostendendum est quomodo lateat eius defectus. Quia enim punctus non potest esse puncto contiguus, per consequens non potest esse quod linea sit omnino divisa in actu: et ita esse divisibile ubique, licet aliquo modo conveniat magnitudinibus, scilicet in potentia, tamen quodam modo non convenit eis, scilicet in actu. Quia quando ponitur ubique esse divisa in actu, videtur poni ex consequenti quod ubique sit punctus, cum punctus in actu nihil aliud sit quam divisio in actu lineae. Si autem punctus est ubique in actu in linea, necesse est quod magnitudo dividatur in puncta, cum nihil aliud in magnitudine inveniatur: vel etiam, secundum aliam litteram, quod dividatur in nihil, quia nihil erit residuum praeter divisionem, si ubique sit punctum, quod est divisio. Et ideo sequitur quod magnitudo vel sit ex punctis, vel ex tactibus partium lineae, sive divisionibus lineae (quod in idem redit): ponitur enim secundum praedicta, quod hoc quod existit ubique in linea, sit punctus, vel tactus, aut divisio, si linea sit simul omnino divisa.
<td>39. Therefore the Philosopher says that Democritus is concealing a paralogism, i.e., that he commits a hidden fallacy, and that one must show where its defect lies hidden. Now, since one point cannot be contiguous to another, it is impossible for a line to be wholly divided in act. Consequently, the property of being everywhere divisible, although it belongs in some sense to magnitudes, i.e., in potency, yet in another sense it does not belong to them, i.e., in act. For when it [a line] is assumed to be everywhere divided, one implies also that it is everywhere a point, for a point in act is nothing else than a division of the line in act. But if a point is everywhere in act in a line, then the magnitude must be divided into points, since nothing else is found anywhere in the magnitude. Or else, according to another version, it must be divided into nothing, because nothing will remain but division, if everywhere there is a point, which is a division. Consequently, it follows that a magnitude will be constituted, either out of points, or out of contacts between parts of the line, or out of divisions of the line (which is the same thing) for the assumption, according to the above, is that what exists everywhere in the line, if it be all at one time wholly divided, is either a point, or a contact, or a division.
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<td>Sed hoc non potest esse: quia sequeretur quod solum unus punctus esset <i>ubique</i>, idest in qualibet parte lineae; et quod omnes puncti lineae non plus continerent de situ quam unusquisque eorum; immo quod non essent plures quam unus, vel plures divisiones quam una. Non enim possunt se habere consequenter, ita quod punctus unus sit post alium, neque quod se tangant secundum ultima tantum, et secundum alia secernantur; quia, cum sint indivisibiles, secundum totum coniunguntur: et ideo omnes puncti sic coniuncti non sunt nisi unus. Et ideo non est possibile quod punctus sit ubique in linea. Quia si linea esset divisibilis secundum medium sui, et punctus esset contiguus puncto, posset etiam dividi secundum contiguum punctum, si esset omnino divisibilis: sed hoc est impossibile, quia non est contiguum vel <i>habitum</i>, idest consequenter se habens, punctum puncto, vel quodcumque signum signo. Hoc autem punctum in actu nihil aliud est quam actualis divisio lineae, aut <i>compositio</i> sive tactus partium lineae.
<td>But this cannot be, because it would follow that one single point would be "everywhere," i.e., in each part of the line, and that all the points of the line would occupy no more space than each one. Indeed, there would be no more than one point nor more divisions than one. For the points assumed to be present could not be consecutive in the sense of one being after another; neither could they be in contact as to their extremities only while being in other respects separated, because, being indivisible, they are in contact according to their wholes. Therefore all the points so conjoined are just one point. Hence, it is impossible for a point to be everywhere in a line. For if a line were divisible through its middle and point touched point, that line could also be divided according to a contiguous point, the line being wholly divisible. But this is impossible, because point is not contiguous to point nor "had," i.e., consecutive, nor is any sign so to another point. This point in act is nothing other than an actual division of the line, or the "composition" or contact of the parts of the line.
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<td>Unde concedendum est quod in corporibus sensibilibus invenitur congregatio et segregatio: non tamen in indivisibilia corpora, aut ex indivisibilibus (multa enim impossibilia sequerentur, ut in III de caelo dictum est): neque ita quod divisio actualis lineae fiat ubique (hoc enim contingeret, si punctus esset contiguus puncto, quod est impossibile, ut ex dictis patet): sed segregatio corporum est in aliqua parva et minora, congregatio vero est ex aliquibus parvis et minoribus; non autem ex minimis, quae oportet esse indivisibilia.
<td>Hence it must be conceded that in sensible bodies combination and separation are found, but not separation into indivisible bodies or combination out of indivisible bodies (for otherwise many impossibilities would follow, as was said in <i>On the Heavens</i> III). Neither can a line be actually divided everywhere (which would happen, if point were contiguous to point, which is impossible as is evident from what has been said). But the separation of bodies is into certain small and lesser things, and combination is out of certain small and lesser things, but not out of least things which have to be indivisibles.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: sed non simplex etc., solvit secundam rationem Democriti, per interemptionem.
<td>40. Then [39] he answers he second argument of Democritus by destroying its foundation.
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo interimit generationem simplicem et corruptionem esse congregationem et segregationem, ut Democritus existimabat;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo ostendit quantum ad quid potest verificari dictum Democriti, ibi: segregata autem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he destroys the notion that simple generation and corruption are instances of assembling and separation, as Democritus believed;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he shows to what extent the dictum of Democritus can be verified, at 41.
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<td>Dicit ergo primo quod non est ita dicendum, sicut quidam dixerunt, quod simplex et perfecta generatio fiat per congregationem, corruptio autem per segregationem; et quod omnis transmutatio quae fit in aliquo continuo permanente, scilicet non congregato nec segregato, sit alteratio. Credebant enim hoc accidere in rebus naturalibus, sicut accidit in domo et in omnibus huiusmodi, quorum forma consistit in positione et ordine: non enim fiunt nisi per congregationem partium, neque corrumpuntur nisi per segregationem; quaecumque autem alia transmutatio in huiusmodi accidit, praeter solutionem continuitatum, alteratio est.
<td>He says therefore first [39] that one should not say, as some have said, that simple and perfect generation occurs through assembling, and corruption through separating, and that any change which takes place in a permanent continuum, i.e., which is not assembled or disintegrated, is alteration. For they thought that this occurred in natural things as it does in a house and in all such things, whose form consists in position and order, because these things come to be only by assembling the parts, and are disintegrated only by separating the parts. Whatever other change occurs in such things, provided it is not a dissolving of the continuous, is alteration.
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<td>Hoc est ergo ex quo procedit tota fallacia. Est enim generatio et corruptio in rebus naturalibus, quarum forma non est positio et ordo: non quidem per congregationem et segregationem, sed quia fit transmutatio <i>ex hoc toto</i>, idest non dissoluto in partes, <i>in hoc totum</i>, quasi non congregatum ex aliquibus partibus. Sed antiqui philosophi existimabant omnem talem transmutationem, quae fit aliquo toto integro permanente, esse alterationem. Quod quidem non est verum: quandoque enim potest esse simplex generatio, et quandoque alteratio. Sed in hoc differunt: quia in subiecto aliquo est hoc quidem secundum <i>rationem</i>, idest secundum formam, hoc autem secundum materiam (nam corpus naturale actu existens compositum est ex materia et forma): quando igitur est transmutatio secundum materiam et formam, ita scilicet quod materia accipiat aliam formam substantialem, erit simplex generatio et corruptio; quando autem est transmutatio secundum passiones et accidentia, erit alteratio.
<td>It is from this belief that the entire fallacy proceeds. For there is generation and corruption in natural things, whose form does not consist in position and order, not indeed through assembling and separating, but because there is a change "from this whole," i.e., from this whole not resolved into its parts, "into that whole," which is not an assembly of parts. But the early philosophers thought that every such change, that occurs while the whole remains intact, is alteration. However, this is not true. For at one time there can be simple generation and at another alteration. They differ in this: In a subject there is present something according to "notion," i.e., according to form, and something according to matter (for a natural body that exists in act is a composite of matter and form). When, therefore, there is a change according to matter and form, in such a way, namely, that the matter acquires a different substantial form, there will be simple generation and corruption; but when there is a change according to passions and accidents, it will be alteration.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: segregata autem etc., ostendit quantum ad quid verificetur dictum Democriti. Manifestum est enim quod aliqua, ex hoc quod sunt congregata vel segregata, redduntur levius vel difficilius corruptibilia vel mutabilia. Si enim aqua dividatur in parvissimas partes, minus poterit resistere actioni contrarii agentis, et ita citius ex aqua corrupta generabitur aer: si vero congregetur multum de aqua, magis resistet agenti, et sic tardius corrumpetur, ut ex ea possit generari aer. Et hoc magis manifestum erit in sequentibus.
<td>41. Then [40] he shows in what sense Democritus' dictum is verified. For it is plain that some things, by the very fact that they are assembled or separated, are rendered more easy or more difficult to destroy or modify. For if water be divided into very small parts, it is less able to resist the action of a contrary agent, and in this way, from the corrupted water, air will be more quickly generated. But if much water is assembled, it will offer greater resistance to an agent and thus will be more slowly corrupted so as to allow air to be generated from it. But this will be clearer in what follows.
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<td>Ultimo autem epilogando dicit nunc intantum esse determinatum quod impossibile est generationem esse congregationem, qualem quidam inquiunt, scilicet ex corporibus indivisibilibus.
<td>Finally, as a summary, he says that so much can be taken as established, namely that generation cannot be assembling, of the sort that some maintain, namely, that out of indivisible bodies.
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<blockquote>
Lecture 6<br>
Does simple generation exist? Problem and solution.
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<td colspan="2"><b>Chapter 3</b>
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Διωρισμένων δὲ τούτων, πρῶτον θεωρητέον πότερόν ἐστί τι γινόμενον ἁπλῶς καὶ φθειρόμενον, ἢ κυρίως μὲν οὐδέν, ἀεὶ δ' ἔκ τινος καὶ τί, λέγω δ' οἷον ἐκ κάμνοντος ὑγιαῖνον καὶ κάμνον ἐξ ὑγιαίνοντος, ἢ μικρὸν ἐκ μεγάλου καὶ (317b.) μέγα ἐκ μικροῦ, καὶ τἆλλα πάντα τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον.
<td>42 Now that we have established the preceding distinctions, we must first consider whether there is anything which comes-to-be and passes-away in the unqualified sense: or whether nothing comes-to-be in this strict sense, but everything always comes-to-be something and out of something—I mean, e.g. comes-to-be-healthy out of being-ill and ill out of being-healthy, comes-to-be-small out of being big and big out of being-small, and so on in every other instance.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Εἰ γὰρ ἁπλῶς ἔσται γένεσις, ἁπλῶς ἄν τι γίνοιτο ἐκ μὴ ὄντος,
<td>43 For if there is to be coming-to-be without qualification, 'something' must—without qualification—'come-to-be out of not-being',
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<td style="font-family: palatino">ὥστ' ἀληθὲς ἂν εἴη λέγειν ὅτι ὑπάρχει τισὶ τὸ μὴ ὄν.
<td>44 so that it would be true to say that 'not-being is an attribute of some things'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Τὶς μὲν γὰρ γένεσις ἐκ μὴ ὄντος τινός, οἷον ἐκ μὴ λευκοῦ ἢ μὴ καλοῦ, ἡ δὲ ἁπλῆ ἐξ ἁπλῶς μὴ ὄντος.
<td>45 For qualified coming-to-be is a process out of qualified not-being (e.g. out of not-white or not-beautiful), but unqualified coming-to-be is a process out of unqualified not-being.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Τὸ δ' ἁπλῶς ἤτοι τὸ πρῶτον σημαίνει καθ' ἑκάστην κατηγορίαν τοῦ ὄντος, ἢ τὸ καθόλου καὶ τὸ πάντα περιέχον.
<td>46 Now 'unqulified' means either (i) the primary predication within each Category, or (ii) the universal, i.e. the all-comprehensive, predication.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Εἰ μὲν οὖν τὸ πρῶτον, οὐσίας ἔσται γένεσις ἐκ μὴ οὐσίας. Ὧι δὲ μὴ ὑπάρχει οὐσία μηδὲ τὸ τόδε, δῆλον ὡς οὐδὲ τῶν ἄλλων οὐδεμία κατηγοριῶν, οἷον οὔτε ποιὸν οὔτε ποσὸν οὔτε τὸ ποῦ· χωριστὰ γὰρ ἂν εἴη τὰ πάθη τῶν οὐσιῶν. Εἰ δὲ τὸ μὴ ὂν ὅλως, ἀπόφασις ἔσται καθόλου πάντων, ὥστε ἐκ μηδενὸς ἀνάγκη γίνεσθαι τὸ γινόμενον.
<td>47 Hence, if 'unqualified not-being 'means the negation of 'being' in the sense of the primary term of the Category in question, we shall have, in 'unqualified coming-to-be', a coming-to-be of a substance out of not-substance. But that which is not a substance or a 'this' clearly cannot possess predicates drawn from any of the other Categories either—e.g. we cannot attribute to it any quality, quantity, or position. Otherwise, properties would admit of existence in separation from substances. If, on the other hand, 'unqualified not-being' means 'what is not in any sense at all', it will be a universal negation of all forms of being, so that what comes-to-be will have to come-to-be out of nothing.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Περὶ μὲν οὖν τούτων ἐν ἄλλοις τε διηπόρηται καὶ διώρισται τοῖς λόγοις ἐπὶ πλεῖον· συντόμως δὲ καὶ νῦν λεκτέον, ὅτι τρόπον μέν τινα ἐκ μὴ ὄντος ἁπλῶς γίνεται, τρόπον δὲ ἄλλον ἐξ ὄντος ἀεί· τὸ γὰρ δυνάμει ὂν ἐντελεχείᾳ δὲ μὴ ὂν ἀνάγκη προυπάρχειν λεγόμενον ἀμφοτέρως.
<td>48 Although we have dealt with these problems at greater length in another work, where we have set forth the difficulties and established the distinguishing definitions, the following concise restatement of our results must here be offered: In one sense things come-to-be out of that which has no 'being' without qualification: yet in another sense they come-to-be always out of what is'. For coming-to-be necessarily implies the pre-existence of something which potentially 'is', but actually 'is not'; and this something is spoken of both as 'being' and as 'not-being'.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ὃ δὲ καὶ τούτων διωρισμένων ἔχει θαυμαστὴν ἀπορίαν, πάλιν ἐπαναποδιστέον, πῶς ἔστιν ἁπλῆ γένεσις, εἴτ' ἐκ δυνάμει ὄντος οὖσα εἴτε καί πως ἄλλως.
<td>49 These distinctions may be taken as established: but even then it is extraordinarily difficult to see how there can be 'unqualified coming-to-be' (whether we suppose it to occur out of what potentially 'is', or in some other way), and we must recall this problem for further examination.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἀπορήσειε γὰρ ἄν τις ἆρ' ἔστιν οὐσίας γένεσις καὶ τοῦ τοῦδε, ἀλλὰ μὴ τοῦ τοιοῦδε καὶ τοσοῦδε καὶ ποῦ. Τὸν αὐτὸν δὲ τρόπον καὶ περὶ φθορᾶς.
<td>50 For the question might be raised whether substance (i.e. the 'this') comes-to-be at all. Is it not rather the 'such', the 'so great', or the 'somewhere', which comes-to-be? And the same question might be raised about 'passing-away' also.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Εἰ γάρ τι γίνεται, δῆλον ὡς ἔσται δυνάμει τις οὐσία, ἐντελεχείᾳ δ' οὔ, ἐξ ἧς ἡ γένεσις ἔσται καὶ εἰς ἣν ἀνάγκη μεταβάλλειν τὸ φθειρόμενον. Πότερον οὖν ὑπάρξει τι τούτῳ τῶν ἄλλων ἐντελεχείᾳ; λέγω δ' οἷον ἆρ' ἔσται ποσὸν ἢ ποιὸν ἢ ποῦ τὸ δυνάμει μόνον τόδε καὶ ὄν, ἁπλῶς δὲ μὴ τόδε μηδ' ὄν; εἰ γὰρ μηδὲν ἀλλὰ πάντα δυνάμει, χωριστόν τε συμβαίνει τὸ μὴ οὕτως ὄν, καὶ ἔτι, ὃ μάλιστα φοβούμενοι διετέλεσαν οἱ πρῶτοι φιλοσοφήσαντες, τὸ ἐκ μηδενὸς γίνεσθαι προυπάρχοντος· εἰ δὲ τὸ μὲν εἶναι τόδε τι ἢ οὐσίαν οὐχ ὑπάρξει, τῶν δ' ἄλλων τι τῶν εἰρημένων, ἔσται, καθάπερ εἴπομεν, χωριστὰ τὰ πάθη τῶν οὐσιῶν.
<td>51 For if a substantial thing comes-to-be, it is clear that there will 'be' (not actually, but potentially) a substance, out of which its coming-to-be will proceed and into which the thing that is passing-away will necessarily change. Then will any predicate belonging to the remaining Categories attach actually to this presupposed substance? In other words, will that which is only potentially a 'this' (which only potentially is), while without the qualification 'potentially' it is not a 'this' (i.e. is not), possess, e.g. any determinate size or quality or position? For (i) if it possesses none of these determinations actually, but all of them only potentially, the result is first that a being, which is not a determinate being, is capable of separate existence; and in addition that coming-to-be proceeds out of nothing pre-existing—a thesis which, more than any other, preoccupied and alarmed the earliest philosophers. On the other hand (ii) if, although it is not a 'this somewhat' or a substance, it is to possess some of the remaining determinations quoted above, then (as we said)' properties will be separable from substances.
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<td>Postquam philosophus determinavit de generatione et alteratione secundum opiniones aliorum, hic incipit inquirere de eis secundum opinionem propriam.
<td>42. After determining about generation and alteration according to the opinions of others, the Philosopher here begins to inquire about them according to his own opinion.
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo inquirit utrum sit aliqua simplex generatio, secundum quam aliquid dicitur simpliciter generari;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo de differentia alterationis ad simplicem generationem, ibi: de generatione autem et alteratione et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he asks whether there is any simple generation, according to which something is said to be generated absolutely;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, the difference between alteration and simple generation (L. 10).
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<td>Circa primum duo facit.
<td>With respect to the first he does two things.
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<td>Primo dicit de quo est intentio: dicens quod post determinationem praedictorum, in consideratione veritatis primo occurrit videndum utrum aliquid generetur et corrumpatur simpliciter; vel <i>proprie</i> quidem, idest simpliciter seu principaliter, nihil generatur vel corrumpitur, sed semper generatur aliquid ex aliquo et in aliquid; quod videtur pertinere ad generationem vel corruptionem secundum quid. Et inducit exemplum, puta cum ex <i>laborante</i>, idest infirmo, fit sanum: non enim fit ens simpliciter, quia et prius erat, sed fit <i>aliquid</i>, scilicet sanum, cum prius non esset sanum, sed <i>laborans</i>, idest infirmum. Et eadem ratio est cum fit aliquid laborans ex sano, vel parvum ex magno, aut e converso, et sic de omnibus aliis quae hoc modo dicuntur: huiusmodi enim generatio secundum quid invenitur in omni genere mobilium, ut patet in VIII Physic.
<td>First he states his intention [42] and says that after having determined the foregoing, the first point in the inquiry into the truth is to see whether something is generated and corrupted absolutely, or whether "properly," i.e., absolutely or principally, nothing is generated or corrupted, but that always something is generated from something and into something — which seems to pertain to generation and corruption in a qualified sense. And he gives as an example the case when, from something "laboring," i.e., ill, something healthy comes to be. In this case absolute being is not produced, because it already existed, but "something," namely, to be healthy, is, since previously "healthy" was not, but "laboring," i.e., ill. And the same holds when something is made ill from healthy, or the small from the large, or conversely, and so on for all changes stated in this manner — for such generation in a qualified sense is found in every class of mobile being, as is plain in <i>Physics</i> VIII.
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<td>Secundo ibi: si enim simpliciter etc., exequitur propositum.
<td>43. Secondly, [43], he carries out his proposal:
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<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Et primo proponit dubitationem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo solvit eam, ibi: de his quidem etc.;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">tertio obiicit contra solutionem, ibi: quod autem et his determinatis et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he states a doubt;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he resolves it, at 48;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Thirdly, he objects to the solution, at 49.
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<td>Circa primum duo facit:
<td>Regarding the first he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit dubitationem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo excludit quandam responsionem, ibi: simpliciter autem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he states the doubt;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he rejects one answer, at 46.
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<td>Circa primum tria facit.
<td>As to the first he does three things:
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<td>Primo proponit quandam consequentiam: dicens quod, si sit aliqua generatio simpliciter, sequitur quod aliquid generabitur ex simpliciter non ente.
<td>First he proposes a certain consequence [43] saying that, if absolute generation should occur, it would follow that something would be generated from absolute non-being.
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<td>Secundo, cum dicit: quapropter verum erit etc., ostendit consequens esse impossibile. Illud enim ex quo aliquid generatur, potest dici esse illud; sicut si ex ligno generatur arca, potest dici quod lignum est arca. Si ergo ex non ente simpliciter generatur ens, verum erit dicere quod non ens <i>existit</i>, idest est ens; quod est contradictoria esse simul vera. Sic ergo videtur et antecedens esse impossibile, scilicet quod aliquid generetur simpliciter ex non ente. Sequitur autem hoc inconveniens, si dicatur ex non ente simpliciter fieri aliquid sicut ex subiecto permanente: non autem sequitur, si ponatur ex non ente fieri aliquid simpliciter ordine tantum, idest, post non ens fit ens. Sed Aristoteles hoc disputative obiicit.
<td>44. Secondly [44] he shows that the consequent is impossible. For that from which something is generated can be called it; for example, if from wood a cabinet is generated, it can be said that the cabinet is wood. If, therefore, from absolute non-being being is generated, it will be true to say that nonbeing exists, i.e., that it is being — which is to have contradictories true at the same time. Consequently the antecedent is seen to be impossible, namely, that something be generated absolutely from non-being. Now this inadmissibility follows if something should be said to be produced from non-being absolutely, as from a permanent subject; it does not follow, however, if it is pointed out that something is produced from non-being absolutely according to order alone, i.e., that after non-being is produced being. But Aristotle is objecting here in a disputative manner.
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<td>Tertio ibi: quaedam enim generatio etc., ostendit necessitatem primae consequentiae. Sicut enim se habet generatio quaedam ad non ens aliquod, sic se habet generatio simpliciter ad non ens simpliciter. Sed generatio <i>quaedam</i>, idest secundum quam aliquid dicitur generari secundum quid, est ex non ente quodam, puta ex non albo, cum fit aliquid album, aut ex non bono, cum fit aliquid bonum. Ergo simpliciter generatio, secundum quam aliquid dicitur generari simpliciter, est ex simpliciter non ente.
<td>45. Thirdly [45], he shows the necessity of the first consequence. For just as some particular generation is related to some particular non-being, so absolute generation is related to absolute non-being. But a "certain" generation, i.e., a generation according to which something is said to be generated in a qualified sense is from a certain non-being, for example, from non-white, when something becomes white, or from non-good, when something becomes good. Therefore, absolute generation, according to which something is said to be generated absolutely, is from absolute now-being.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: simpliciter autem etc., excludit quandam solutionem, quae possit dari distinguendo ens simpliciter. Unde primo ponit ipsam distinctionem, dicens quod <i>simpliciter ens</i> potest intelligi dupliciter: uno modo ut significat id quod est primum inter omnia praedicamenta entis, prout scilicet simpliciter ens dicitur de substantia; alio modo secundum quod simpliciter ens dicitur ipsum ens universale, quod omnia praedicamenta comprehendit. Et hoc modo <i>simpliciter non ens</i> potest dici vel quod non est substantia, vel quod nullo modo est ens.
<td>46. Then [46] he excludes a certain solution that could be given by distinguishing "absolute being." Hence he first presents the distinction and says that "absolute being" may be understood in two ways: in one way as meaning that which is the first among the predicaments of being, namely, substance; in another way as meaning universal being, which includes all the predicaments. According to these distinctions, "absolute non-being" may be said either of what is not substance, or of what is in no way being.
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<td>Secundo ibi: si quidem primum etc., ostendit quod secundum utrumque sensum sequitur inconveniens. Si enim simpliciter dicatur primum ens quod est substantia, ergo et simpliciter non ens dicetur non substantia. Si ergo generatio simplex hoc requirit, quod sit simpliciter entis ex simpliciter non ente, sequetur quod erit substantia ex non substantia. Sed quando ponitur non esse substantiam neque <i>hoc</i> (quod est demonstrativum individualis substantiae), manifestum est quod nullum aliorum praedicamentorum remanebit, idest neque quale neque quantum neque ubi: quia sequeretur quod <i>passiones</i>, idest accidentia, separarentur a substantiis, quod est impossibile.
<td>47. Secondly [47], he shows that according to both senses something inadmissible follows. For if "absolute being" is taken to mean the first being, which is substance, then "absolute non-being" will be non-substance. If, therefore, absolute generation requires that there be absolute being from absolute nonbeing, it will follow that there will be substance from non-substance. But when it is assumed that neither substance exists nor a "this" (which implies an individual substance), then it is plain that none of the other predicaments will remain, i.e., neither quality, nor quantity, nor "where" — because otherwise it would follow that "passions," i.e., accidents, would exist separated from substances, which is impossible.
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<td>Si autem dicatur quod illud ex quo aliquid generatur simpliciter, sit non ens universaliter, prout ens simpliciter dicitur ens commune, sequetur quod per hoc quod dicitur non ens, intelligatur universaliter negatio omnium entium. Unde sequetur quod illud quod generatur simpliciter, generetur penitus ex nihilo: quod est contra rationem naturalis generationis, et contra sententias omnium philosophorum naturalium, qui scilicet de generatione naturali locuti sunt.
<td>But if it should be said that that from which something is generated absolutely is universal non-being, in the sense that "absolute being" is taken to mean common being, it will follow that the expression, "non-being," means the negation of all beings. Hence it will follow that what would be generated absolutely would be generated from absolutely nothing. But this is against the notion of natural generation, and against the doctrines of all the natural philosophers, who discussed natural generation.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: de his quidem etc., solvit praedictam dubitationem. Et dicit quod de ista materia etiam in aliis libris, scilicet in I Physic., <i>amplius</i>, idest diffusius, et dubitationes positae sunt et determinationes. Et ideo nunc brevius est dicendum, quod simpliciter generatur aliquid quodam modo ex non ente, alio modo ex ente: oportet enim illud quod praeexistit generationi, esse potentia ens, actu autem non ens. Et ita verum est quod dicitur utroque modo: scilicet quod generatio simpliciter sit ex ente, et ex non ente.
<td>48. Then at [48] he resolves this doubt. And he says that this matter has been "more fully" discussed, i.e., discussed at greater length, also in other books, namely, in <i>Physics</i> I, with the difficulties presented and the determinations made. Therefore now it is enough to state more briefly that something is absolutely generated in a way from non-being, and in a way from being - for that which pre-exists to the generation must be being in potency but non-being in act. Consequently, what is said on both sides is true, namely, that absolute generation is from being, and from non-being.
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<td>Deinde cum dicit: quod autem et his determinatis etc., obiicit contra praedictam solutionem. Et circa hoc tria facit:
<td>49. Then [49] he objects against this solution. Concerning this he does three things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo ponit obiectionem;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo huius occasione introducit aliam quaestionem, et solvit eam, ibi: de his autem quantum etc.;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">tertio solvit dubitationem praedictam, ibi: propter quid et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he presents the objection;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he uses this as an occasion for asking another question and answering it (L. 7);
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Thirdly, he answers the doubt under discussion (L. 8).
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<td>Circa primum tria facit.
<td>In regard to the first he does three things:
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<td>Primo dicit de quo est intentio: et dicit quod, quia etiam post praedictam determinationem adhuc insurgit mirabilis dubitatio, rursus oportet tentare quomodo simpliciter generatio sit, sive ex ente in potentia, sive qualiter sit alio modo.
<td>First, he states his intention [49] and says that because the foregoing determination begets a wondrous question, it will be necessary once more to investigate how absolute generation takes place, i.e., whether from being in potency, or in some other way.
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<td>Secundo ibi: quaeret enim quis etc., movet quandam quaestionem: utrum scilicet generatio simplex sit tantum substantiae et <i>huius</i>, idest individui in genere substantiae; non autem sit quanti neque qualis neque ubi, et aliorum praedicamentorum, quae non sunt simpliciter entia. Et eadem quaestio potest fieri de corruptione. Et est hoc supponendum pro certo, quod generatio et corruptio simplex sit solius substantiae.
<td>50. Secondly [50], he raises a certain question: Is simple generation only of substance and of "this," i.e., the individual in the genus of substance, and not of quantity or quality or "where" or the other predicaments, which are not beings absolutely? And the same question can be put with regard to corruption. And it is to be supposed as a certainty that simple generation and corruption are of substance alone.
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<td>Tertio ibi: si enim quid generabitur etc., prosequitur dubitationem. Et dicit quod, si non generatur simpliciter nisi <i>quid</i>, idest existens in genere substantiae; et illud ex quo aliquid generatur, est potentia ens, sicut supra dictum est, et non actu; sequitur quod illud ex quo generatur substantia, et in quod transmutatur quando corrumpitur, sit substantia in potentia, non autem actu. Restat ergo quaerendum utrum sit in actu aliquod aliorum praedicamentorum, puta quantum vel quale aut ubi, aut quodcumque aliorum praedicamentorum; cum tamen sit in potentia <i>ens hoc</i>, idest substantia, quae est ens simpliciter; ita tamen quod non sit <i>simpliciter</i>, idest in actu, neque <i>hoc</i>, idest neque substantia, neque ens.
<td>51. Thirdly [51], he continues with the problem. And he says that if the only thing generated absolutely is the "what," i.e., something existing in the genus of substance, and if that from which something is generated is being in potency, as was said above, and not in act, it follows that that from which substance is generated, as well as that into which it is changed when corrupted, is substance in potency and not in act. Therefore it remains to inquire whether it is any of the other predicaments in act, such as quantity or quality or "where" or any of the other predicaments, while at the same time being potentially "this being," i.e., substance, which is being absolutely, although not existing "absolutely," i.e., in act, as "this," i.e., as substance or being.
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<td>Quaecumque autem pars huius dubitationis detur, sequitur inconveniens. Si enim nihil aliorum est in actu, sed est in potentia omnia genera praedicamentorum, sequitur primo quod <i>non ens sit separatum</i>, idest quod materia, quae est ens in potentia, subiecta sit privationi, quae est non ens, absque omni forma. Secundo sequitur illud quod maxime timuerunt primi philosophi, quod aliquid generetur ex nullo praeexistente: quod enim non est ens actu, nihil est.
<td>Whichever part of this difficulty is conceded, something inadmissible follows. For if it is none of the others in act, but is all of the genera of the predicaments in potency, it follows first of all than non-being is separated, i.e., that matter, which is being in potency, is existing under privation, which is non-being, but without any form. Secondly, there follows what the first philosophers most feared, namely, that something be generated from no pre-existing thing: for what is not being in act, is nothing.
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<td>Si vero ponatur quod id ex quo generatur substantia, non sit <i>hoc aliquid</i>, idest individuum in genere substantiae, neque sit substantia in actu, sed sit in actu aliquod aliorum praedicamentorum; sequitur inconveniens quod prius induximus, quod scilicet <i>passiones</i>, idest accidentia, separentur a substantiis; quod est manifeste impossibile.
<td>But if it is supposed that that from which substance is generated is not a "this something," i.e., an individual in the genus of substance, nor substance in act, but is one of the other predicaments in act, there follows the inadmissible consequence we adduced before, namely, that "passions," i.e., accidents, exist isolated from substances — which is plainly impossible.
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<td>Sic igitur videtur quod non possit esse generatio simpliciter hoc modo, quod substantia generetur ex non ente actu, ente autem in potentia, ut praedicta solutio dicebat.
<td>Consequently, it seems that absolute generation cannot occur in this way, namely, that a substance be generated from what is non-being in act and being in potency, as the foregoing solution suggested.
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<hr>
<blockquote>
Lecture 7<br>
The cause on the part of matter why generation never fails.
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<td colspan="2"><b>Chapter 3 cont.</b>
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Περί τε τούτων οὖν ὅσον ἐνδέχεται πραγματευτέον, καὶ τίς αἰτία τοῦ γένεσιν ἀεὶ εἶναι, καὶ τὴν ἁπλῆν καὶ τὴν κατὰ μέρος.
<td>52 We must therefore concentrate all our powers on the discussion of these difficulties and on the solution of a further question—viz. What is the cause of the perpetuity of coming-to-be? Why is there always unqualified, as well as partial, coming-to-be?
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<td style="font-family: palatino">(318a.) Οὔσης δ' αἰτίας μιᾶς μὲν ὅθεν τὴν ἀρχὴν εἶναί φαμεν τῆς κινήσεως, μιᾶς δὲ τῆς ὕλης, τὴν τοιαύτην αἰτίαν λεκτέον.
<td>53 'Cause' in this connexion has two senses. It means (i) the source from which, as we say, the process 'originates', and (ii) the matter. It is the material cause that we have here to state.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Περὶ μὲν γὰρ ἐκείνης εἴρηται πρότερον ἐν τοῖς περὶ κινήσεως λόγοις, ὅτι ἐστὶ τὸ μὲν ἀκίνητον τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον, τὸ δὲ κινούμενον ἀεί. Τούτων δὲ περὶ μὲν τῆς ἀκινήτου ἀρχῆς τῆς ἑτέρας καὶ προτέρας διελεῖν ἐστι φιλοσοφίας ἔργον· περὶ δὲ τοῦ διὰ τὸ συνεχῶς κινεῖσθαι τἆλλα κινοῦντος ὕστερον ἀποδοτέον, τί τοιοῦτον τῶν καθ' ἕκαστα λεγομένων αἴτιόν ἐστιν, νῦν δὲ τὴν ὡς ἐν ὕλης εἴδει τιθεμένην αἰτίαν εἴπωμεν, δι' ἣν ἀεὶ φθορὰ καὶ γένεσις οὐχ ὑπολείπει τὴν φύσιν· ἅμα γὰρ ἂν ἴσως τοῦτο γένοιτο δῆλον, καὶ περὶ τοῦ νῦν ἀπορηθέντος, πῶς ποτὲ δεῖ λέγειν καὶ περὶ τῆς ἁπλῆς φθορᾶς καὶ γενέσεως.
<td>For, as to the other cause, we have already explained (in our treatise on Motion that it involves (a) something immovable through all time and (b) something always being moved. And the accurate treatment of the first of these—of the immovable 'originative source'—belongs to the province of the other, or 'prior', philosophy: while as regards 'that which sets everything else in motion by being itself continuously moved', we shall have to explain later' which amongst the so-called 'specific' causes exhibits this character. But at present we are to state the material cause—the cause classed under the head of matter—to which it is due that passing-away and coming-to-be never fail to occur in Nature. For perhaps, if we succeed in clearing up this question, it will simultaneously become clear what account we ought to give of that which perplexed us just now, i.e. of unqualified passing-away and coming-to-be.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">Ἔχει δ' ἀπορίαν ἱκανὴν καὶ τί τὸ αἴτιον τοῦ συνείρειν τὴν γένεσιν, εἴπερ τὸ φθειρόμενον εἰς τὸ μὴ ὂν ἀπέρχεται, τὸ δὲ μὴ ὂν μηδέν ἐστιν· οὔτε γὰρ τὶ οὔτε ποιὸν οὔτε ποσὸν οὔτε ποῦ τὸ μὴ ὄν. Εἴπερ οὖν ἀεί τι τῶν ὄντων ἀπέρχεται, διὰ τί ποτ' οὐκ ἀνήλωται πάλαι καὶ φροῦδον τὸ πᾶν, εἴ γε πεπερασμένον ἦν ἐξ οὗ γίνεται τῶν γινομένων ἕκαστον;
<td>54 Our new question too—viz. 'what is the cause of the unbroken continuity of coming-to-be?'—is sufficiently perplexing, if in fact what passes-away vanishes into 'what is not' and 'what is not' is nothing (since 'what is not' is neither a thing, nor possessed of a quality or quantity, nor in any place). If, then, some one of the things 'which are' constantly disappearing, why has not the whole of 'what is' been used up long ago and vanished away assuming of course that the material of all the several comings-to-be was finite?
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<td style="font-family: palatino">οὐ γὰρ δὴ διὰ τὸ ἄπειρον εἶναι ἐξ οὗ γίνεται, οὐχ ὑπολείπει· τοῦτο γὰρ ἀδύνατον. Κατ' ἐνέργειαν μὲν γὰρ οὐδέν ἐστιν ἄπειρον,
<td>55 For, presumably, the unfailing continuity of coming-to-be cannot be attributed to the infinity of the material. That is impossible, for nothing is actually infinite.
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<td style="font-family: palatino">δυνάμει δ' ἐπὶ τὴν διαίρεσιν, ὥστ' ἔδει ταύτην εἶναι μόνην τὴν μὴ ὑπολείπουσαν τῷ γίνεσθαί τι ἀεὶ ἔλαττον· νῦν δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὁρῶμεν. Ἆρ' οὖν διὰ τὸ τὴν τοῦδε φθορὰν ἄλλου εἶναι γένεσιν καὶ τὴν τοῦδε γένεσιν ἄλλου εἶναι φθορὰν ἄπαυστον ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι τὴν μεταβολήν;
<td>56 A thing is infinite only potentially, i.e. the dividing of it can continue indefinitely: so that we should have to suppose there is only one kind of coming-to-be in the world—viz. one which never fails, because it is such that what comes-to-be is on each successive occasion smaller than before. But in fact this is not what we see occurring. Why, then, is this form of change necessarily ceaseless? Is it because the passing-away of this is a coming-to-be of something else, and the coming-to-be of this a passing-away of something else?
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<td>Postquam Aristoteles contra praemissam solutionem obiecit, hic introducit aliam quaestionem, per cuius solutionem solvitur praedicta obiectio. Et circa hoc duo facit:
<td>52. After presenting an objection against the aforesaid solution, the Philosopher here introduces another question, the answer to which resolves the previous objection. About this he does two things:
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<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">primo introducit quaestionem et solvit eam;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">secundo ex eius solutione procedit ad solvendum quaestionem principaliter intentam, ibi: propter quid autem et cetera.
<td>
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">First, he introduces the question and resolves it;
<p style="margin-left:.4in;text-indent:-.2in;margin-top:0">Secondly, he uses this solution to resolve the main question (L. 8).
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<td>Circa primum tria facit:
<td>With respect to the first he does three things:
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