(10) Therefore,
when they behold something in Nature, which does not wholly conform to
the preconceived type which they have formed of the thing in question,
they say that Nature has fallen short or has blundered, and has left her
work incomplete. (Prf:11) Thus we see that men are wont to style natural
phenomena perfect or imperfect rather from their own prejudices, than
from true knowledge of what they pronounce upon.
(Prf:12) Now we showed in the I:[Appendix] , that Nature does not work
with an end in view. (13) For the eternal and infinite Being, which we
call God or Nature, acts by the same necessity as that whereby it exists.
(14) For we have shown, that by the same necessity of its nature, whereby
it exists, it likewise works (I:xvi.). (15) The reason or cause why God
or Nature exists, and the reason why he acts, are one and the same.
(Prf:16) Therefore, as he does not exist for the
sake of an end, so neither does he act for the sake of an end; of his
existence and of his action there is neither origin nor end.
(17) Wherefore, a cause which is called final is nothing else but
human desire, in so far as it is considered as the origin or cause of
anything. (18) For example, when we say that to be inhabited is the
final cause of this or that house, we mean nothing more than that a man,
conceiving the conveniences of household life, had a desire to build a
house.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241