Kitap 1
10
He also tells us what the material substrate is of which the Forms are predicated in the case of sensible things, and the One in that of the Forms—that it is this the duality, the Great and Small. Further, he assigned to these two elements respectively the causation of goodCf. Plat. Phil. 25e-26b. and of evil; a problem which, as we have said,Aristot. Met. 3.17; 4.3. had also been considered by some of the earlier philosophers, e.g. Empedocles and Anaxagoras.
1
We have given only a concise and summary account of those thinkers who have expressed views about the causes and reality, and of their doctrines. Nevertheless we have learned thus much from them: that not one of those who discuss principle or cause has mentioned any other type than those which we we have distinguished in the Physics. Aristot. Phys. 2.3 Clearly it is after these types that they are groping, however uncertainly.
2
Some speak of the first principle as material, whether they regard it as one or several, as corporeal or incorporeal: e.g. Plato speaks of the Great and Small; the ItaliansSee note on Aristot. Met. 5.15. of the Unlimited; Empedocles of Fire, Earth, Water and Air; Anaxagoras of the infinity of homoeomeries.
