Cursus Philosophicus Thomisticus, Secunda Pars Philosophiae Naturalis
John of St. Thomas (1589–1644)
Secunda pars philosophiae naturalis (de ente mobili corruptibili) of the Cursus Philosophicus Thomisticus of John of St. Thomas (Joannes a Sancto Thoma), from the Reiser edition (Marietti, Turin, 1930), Reiser tomus II-II.
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Praefatio I: To the readers
“To the Readers.”1
“The third part of Philosophy, divided into twelve questions, is presented here. In these questions nearly everything discussed in the first part of Philosophy in a general way is again brought under scrutiny; once disputed in particular, it can shed a distinctive light on that common treatise concerning mobile being. For this reason it was also necessary to unravel certain matters through a fuller discussion, so that a more particular and detailed account might be given of things that had been discussed only universally. We have separately set out a summary of Aristotle’s text, explaining its order and sequence, knowing how much the progress of learners is advanced by understanding its proper arrangement and structure. We have also added a “treatise on the Meteors,” which is, as it were, an appendix and a part of the books On Generation, since it treats imperfect mixtures and things that approach the nature of the elements most closely. From there we invite the goodwill of the benevolent reader to the final part of Philosophy, which treats of the Soul and is soon to be published, as the completion of the whole course of the liberal disciplines. And may it serve in some measure for the glory of God and the defense of the doctrine of St. Thomas. Farewell.”
To this third part of Philosophy the author prefixed this dedication:
Dedicatio I: Dedication
Sacred to the Divine Mother, illuminator of all wisdom, the best and greatest Virgin.
And to the throne of her sacred feet,1 the angel of heavenly doctrine, the most faithful interpreter of the divine will,2 the most splendid champion of the faith,3 the unconquerable shield of the Church,
To St. Thomas Aquinas, who irradiates all philosophy.
He gave me true knowledge of the things that are, so that I might know the arrangement of the earth and the powers of the elements.4