Abstract of Logic, Book 1 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of Action and Paſſion.
Ax. 1. ACtion is nothing elſe but the manner after which we do a thing, or by which we are ſaid to act.
Ax. 2. To Act is to Effect ſomething.
Ax. 3. Paſſion is nothing elſe but the manner after which we ſuffer a thing, or that by which we are ſaid to ſuffer.
Ax. 4. To ſuffer is to receive the Effect of the Agent.
1. §. Action and Paſſion are not ſo much things as the Way to things, or the Manner after which things are done, and the Flux of that which is ſaid to be done.
Ax. 5. In Actions are to be diſtinguiſhed Agent, Patient or Subject; the Term from which, and the Term to which.
1. §. For Example: In the Action of Heating, the Agent is the Fire, or Sun; the Patient or Subject, the Perſon who is warmed; the Term from which, Cold; the Term to which, Heat: For he who is warmed, is from being cold, made hot; the Term to which, is always ſome true thing; but the Term from which, is ſometimes only a true thing, and contrary to the Term to which; as in Calefaction or Heating: For Cold and Heat are true Qualities, and contrary one to the other: But ſometimes that from which is nothing elſe but a meer Privation of the Term to which; as when one from unlearned becomes learned: For when nothing is contrary to the Term to which, the Term from which is only privatively oppoſed to it.
Ax. 6. In every Action are neceſſarily required, in Agent, a Term from which, and a Term to which.
Ax. 7. And if the Term to which, cannot ſubſiſt of its ſelf, then there is alſo required a Subject or Patient.
Ax. 8. If the Term to which ſubſiſt of it ſelf, the Action conſiſts without a Patient.
1. §. For ſince Action is nothing elſe but a Flux of the Effect, or the Term to which in fieri, as they ſay. If the Term to which requires a Subject, as in all Action, except Creation it does, the Action alſo requires a Subject: For ſince the Effect of Creation or Term to which is the whole Subſtance, it follows, that Creation has no Subject or Patient. For Creation is nothing elſe but the producing of ſomething out of nothing; that is, out of no Subjected Matter.
Ax. 9. When an Action has a Subject or Patient, it is not in the Agent, but Patient
1. §. For Action (as we have ſaid) is a Flux of the Effect, and therefore ought to be in that Subject in which it is effected; but the Effect is in the Patient, and therefore the Action ought to be in the Patient alſo.
Ax. 10. Even Action and Paſſion differ not in the Thing it ſelf, but in Reſpect only to diverſe Things.
1. §. For there is but one Flux of one Effect, which, as it proceeds from the Agent, is ſaid to be Action; as receiv'd by the Patient, a Paſſion. For as the Way from Athens to Thebes, and from Thebes to Athens, is one only Way collated to diverſe Terms: And as the Riſing and Falling of a Mountain or Hill differs only in Reſpect, ſo alſo Action and Paſſion are in this only Reſpect different; one being referred to the Agent, the other to the Patient.
Ax. 11. Of Actions ſome are Immanent, others Tranſient.
Ax. 12. An Action immanent is that whoſe Effect is in the Agent, as to underſtand, to will.
Ax. 13. Tranſient, whoſe Effect is in another thing, as, to burn, to beat.
Ax. 14. In the Action immanent, the Agent and the Patient are the ſame. In the Tranſient, different in the thing it ſelf.
Ax. 15. An Action Tranſient is divided according to the Diverſity of its Term to which, into four Species; the firſt of which is that of Subſtance, as Generation, to which is oppoſed Corruption. The ſecond: Quantity, as Accretion, to which is oppoſed Diminution. The third, Quality, as Alteration. The fourth, of Place or Ubi, as Local Motion.
1. §. Theſe things are delivered by Ariſtotle in the 14th Chapter of the Categories, but more fully to be handled in the Phyſicks.
Ax. 16. Action may alſo be divided into Univocal and Aequivocal.
Ax. 17. Action Univocal is that by which the Agent produces an Effect of its own Species.
Ax. 18. Action Aequivocal, of a diverſe.
1. §. As when a Mouſe generates a Mouſe; or Heat, Heat; the Action is Univocal: But when the Sun generates Mice, or Light, Heat; the Action is Aequivocal.
Ax. 19. Laſtly, Action is divided into Perficient, or Corrupting; that is, Spoiling.
Ax. 20. Action Perficient is that by which ſomething is effected without the Deſtruction of any thing.
Ax. 21. Corrupting, that by which ſomething is done, and another thing deſtroyed.
1. §. For Example: Illumination is an Action Perficient: For when the Air is enlighten'd it is done by Light, Nothing of Form deſtroyed; but Generation and Heating are Actions Corrupting: For when an Animal or any ſuch thing is generated, at the ſame time ſomething elſe is deſtroyed; and he that was hot, becomes ſo by the Diſmiſſion of the Cold. The Cauſe of this Difference is becauſe Action Perficient is converſant amongſt Terms privatively oppoſed; corrupting between either Contruries or Diſparates.
Ax. 22. The Notes of Action are two: Firſt, Action has a Contrary.
Ax. 23. Secondly, Action receives more or leſs.
1. §. The Action of Heating is contrary to that of making cold; and ſome things heat or cool more, others leſs: And to heat more in this Place is not to heat more ſwiftly, but intenſly; that is, to produce a more intenſe Heat.
Both theſe Notes belong to Action upon the Account of the Term to which, and therefore neither to all; but thoſe only whoſe Terms are contrary and receive Intenſion and Remiſſion: And therefore to generate, to figure, &c. have no Contrary; nor are they intended or remitted, becauſe Subſtance or Figure neither has a Coutrary, or is intended or remitted.
2. §. And all thoſe things which we have ſaid of Action, agree alſo to Paſſion. For the Diviſions and Notes of both are the ſame.