characteristic of Matter, as of Form, as we find it, are due to specific differences added to the essence of this “materia prima.”[1] In the process of “promotion” out of the remote “genus generalissimum” down the scale to the “species[2] specialissima,” a real difference in Matter, corresponding to that in Form, is required. This is the passage from the incomplete to the complete, which are essentially the same according to Aristotle.[3] And the passage is from the “materia prima” to the “materia specifica.”;[4] Matter having its genera and species, just as Form and the Composite have.[5] Now in the process of generation with which Bacon is dealing, Matter and Form are found always together, and Matter seeks its appropriate Form; and since that Form is always imperfect, its Matter will be always seeking a new one.[6] Hence, in all generation, a new Matter as well as a new Form is generated; where there is a renewal of the one, there is a renewal of the other.[7] But this represents change of the “materia specifica,” not change of the “materia prima.” For this is essentially passive, and therefore not capable of generation.
We see, therefore, that the production of Species is limited to “materia specifica.” Let us now see what is involved in saying, that “materia prima” cannot produce them. It means, in short, that the generation of Species is limited to substances and the proper qualities. For, “materia prima” is found to have certain inherent “properties”; in the sense that these precede all generation and follow it and remain always the same.[8] These would include not only bulk and figure and size,[9] but the rare and the dense,[10] and in fact all of the common qualities.[11] As properties of that which is essentially inactive, these can obviously not produce Species.[12] Thus, no Species are produced by common qualities. But everything else produces them. And we may now generalize by saying that everything produces Species save primary Matter and its properties.[13] Or, what is the same thing, the generation of Species is limited to
- ↑ See C. N. 57ff.
- ↑ In the original logical sense.
- ↑ See C. N. 59, cf. Arist. Metaphys. Bk. VIII, Ch. 14; Bk. IX, Ch. 15.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ See C. N. 60.
- ↑ See C. N. 70ff.
- ↑ As Bacon prefers to put it: the species of Matter as well as of Form is renewed or reproduced, though first and foremost it is a reproducing of the Species of the Composite, of Form and Matter (II—424).
- ↑ See II—427. Bacon is rather loose here—as he is apt to be when pressing a point. For, he takes "materia prima" for primary "materia naturalis" (cf. sup.). But his language (cf. inf.) is too clear to admit of doubt as to what he means to say.
- ↑ See II—430, cf. 427, I—152.
- ↑ See II—517, cf. 426.
- ↑ See II—427. Bacon sometimes says all, again most, of these. Cf. inf. ch. IV, where it is considered in reference to his theory of Knowledge.
- ↑ He rests this too upon an appeal to experience (426), just as he does to prove that proper qualities do produce Species (418). He says elsewhere (II—76ff), in considering the problem especially with reference to vision, that it is a difficult one. He concludes, however, that only light and color produce Species. All other qualities affecting vision, are either quantity or properties of quantity, which belongs to Matter and is therefore not active.
- ↑ Cf. II—496.
