Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/430

Rh a blade of grass, as it is in the most complicated organisations.

9. Aristotle's philosophy terminates in a sublime theology. Although matter never exists without form, and although the forms or essence of matter never exist apart from matter, there is nevertheless a form or essence which exists separate from all matter; and this is the first great cause of all that is, the intelligent and moving energy which originally sets in motion the whole machinery of the universe, and evolves potentiality into actuality. This cause is the Deity, the Godhead, which moves all, but is itself unmoved, pure matterless activity, the eternal self-thinking reason, the absolute spirit, in speaking of which Aristotle says, in the words of Homer, that the rule of many is not good, but that there is and should be only one sovereign over all;

10. Aristotle's treatise  falls under the head of his theoretical philosophy, and properly falls under the subdivision of that head which is entitled physics. It is only in reference to this treatise on the soul of man, which he considers chiefly from a physical point of view (in his work ), that I shall speak of the physics of Aristotle. The word soul , is in his vocabulary not by any means limited to intelligence. It signifies, in its widest sense, the power or principle of life; and in this sense it is