Book 12
5
Again, even if the causes of substances are universal, still, as has been said,Aristot. Met. 12.4.6. different things, i.e. things which are not in the same genus, as colors, sounds, substances and quantity, have different causes and elements, except in an analogical sense; and the causes of things which are in the same species are different, not in species, but because the causes of individuals are different: your matter and form and moving cause being different from mine, although in their universal formula they are the same.
6
As for the question what are the principles or elements of substances and relations and qualities, whether they are the same or different, it is evident that when the terms principle and element are used with several meanings they are the same for everything; but when the meanings are distinguished, they are not the same but different; except that in a certain sense they are the same for all. In a certain sense they are the same or analogous, because (a) everything has matter, form, privation and a moving cause; (b) the causes of substances may be regarded as the causes of all things, since if substances are destroyed everything is destroyed; and further (c) that which is first in complete realityi.e., the prime mover. is the cause of all things.
