One cause, in so far as it is one, is productive of only one effect. I do not rule out several efficient causes of which one is nearer and another mo… - Robert Grosseteste

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One cause, in so far as it is one, is productive of only one effect. I do not rule out several efficient causes of which one is nearer and another more remote in the same order. Thus when I say simply 'animal', I do not exclude another substance or particular substance. Hence motion, in so far as it is one, is productive of only one effect. But motion is present in every body from an intrinsic principle which is called natural. Therefore an efficient cause simply proportional to the motion is present in all bodies. But nothing is present in common in every body except primitive matter and primitive form and magnitude, which necessarily follows from these two, and whatever is entailed by magnitude as such, as position and shape. But simply through magnitude a body does not receive motion, as is clear enough when Aristotle shows that everything that moves is divisible, not, therefore, simply because of magnitude or something entailed by magnitude is a body productive of motion. Nor is primitive matter productive of motion, because it is itself passive. It is therefore necessary that motion follow simply from the primitive form as from an efficient cause.

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About Robert Grosseteste

Robert Grosseteste (c. 1175 – 1253) was an English statesman, scholastic philosopher, theologian, scientist, pastor, poet, educator and Bishop of Lincoln, Province of Canterbury, England. From about 1220 to 1235 he wrote a host of scientific treatises and was an early supporter of what was to become the scientific method. Roger Bacon expressed his indebtedness to the work of Grosseteste and A.C. Crombie describes him as "the real founder of the tradition of scientific thought in medieval Oxford..." Translations of Robert Grosseteste's quotes in this article are due to A.C. Crombie, Robert Grosseteste and the Origins of Experimental Science 1100-1700 (1953) unless otherwise noted.

Also Known As

Alternative Names: Robert Greathead Bishop Grosthead Robert de Lincoln Robert Grossestus Robert Grotest Robert Grostte Robert Grostete Robert Grostest Robert Grosstete Robert Grosstête Robert of Lincoln Rupert of Lincoln Robert Capito Robert Grossatesta Robert Groshead Robert Grossoteste Robert Grosse-Tête Robert Grosthed Robert Grosthead Roberto Grossatesta Robertus Grosseteste Robertus Grossetestus Robertus Grossatesta Robert Grosse-Tete Robert Grosteste

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In a vacuum which is imagined as infinite there cannot be local differences, both on account of its infinity, and also because of the fact that the vacuum, if it exists, would have no nature but a privation, and therefore it can have no natural differences.

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