Metaphysics

​Therefore, that everyone seems to search for the causes mentioned in the Physics, and that we could not state any other besides these, is clear also from what has been said before. But they search for these only dimly; and in a way all causes have been spoken of before, but in another way not at all. For the earliest philosophy seems to lisp about all things, inasmuch as it is young and at its beginning, since even Empedocles says that bone exists by the ratio, and this is the essence and the substance of the thing. But indeed, it is equally necessary that flesh and each of the other things should be the ratio, or else nothing at all; for it is because of this that flesh and bone and each of the other things will exist, and not because of the matter which he mentions—fire and earth and water and air. But though he would have agreed of necessity if another had said this, he has not stated it clearly. Now concerning these things, it has been clarified also before. But let us return again to the difficulties which one might raise concerning these same points; for perhaps from them we may obtain some help for our later difficulties.