Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §8.11.1

Analyzing Things by Substance, Cause, and Duration

Passage 282 of 486 · Greek

Summary

It asks how to analyze a thing in itself, considering its own constitution, its material and causal aspects, its function in the universe, and its duration.

§8.11.1Τοῦτο τί ἐστιν αὐτὸ καθ’ αὑτὸ τῇ ἰδίᾳ κατασκευῇ, τί μὲν τὸ οὐσιῶδες αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑλικόν, τί δὲ τὸ αἰτιῶδες, τί δὲ ποιεῖ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, πόσον δὲ χρόνον ὑφίσταται;
What is this, itself by itself in its own constitution: what is its substantial and material part, and what is its causal part? What does it do in the world, and for how long a time does it subsist?

Notes

  1. §8.11.1τῇ ἰδίᾳ κατασκευῇ — Dative of respect (or limitation), modifying the predicate "τί ἐστιν". It means "in its own constitution" or "with respect to its own constitution".
  2. §8.11.1τὸ οὐσιῶδες αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑλικόν... τὸ αἰτιῶδες — This reflects the Stoic division of principles (passive matter and active cause/logos) and the Aristotelian distinction between material (ὑλικόν) and causal/formal (αἰτιῶδες) aspects. "τὸ οὐσιῶδες αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑλικόν" (its substantial and material aspect) is contrasted with "τὸ αἰτιῶδες" (its causal or active aspect).

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §8.11.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.11.1

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