Material causality

pp. 209-241

in: Robert E. Butts, Jaakko Hintikka (eds), Historical and philosophical dimensions of logic, methodology and philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 1977

Abstract

Since knowledge is the object of inquiry, and since we do not think we know a thing until we know the “why” of it, that is, until we grasp its first cause (protē aitia), it is clear that we must do this in regard to coming to be, passing away, and all physical change, so that knowing the principles (archai) of these, we may refer our problems back to such principles.2