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The Principle that the Cause is greater than its Effect

The Principle that the Cause is greater than its Effect 146 The Principle that the Cause is greater than its Effect A. C. LLOYD Transmission theory o f causation here is a mediaeval dogma that a cause must be greater than or equal to its effect. It is widely known, even to those unfamiliar with the Schoolmen, from its use in one of Descartes' proofs of the existence of God (Discours de la méthode, 4e ptie ; Meditatio III). Only a perfect being, Descartes argued, can be responsible for our possessing the idea of perfection, for any other cause (such as our parents) would necessarily be inferior to this effect. The peculiar theory (of esse objectivum) which makes 'idea of perfection' function like 'perfect idea' does not affect the dogma in question. It is easy to conceive and may be difficult not to conceive that simply by lying in a cold bath someone can heat the water at most to his own body temperature. If this conception is generalised we have a notion of causation as the transferring or transmitting of some property from one thing to another. It is the notion which accounts for the Scholastic principle in Descartes' thinking. This can be inferred from his own http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Phronesis Brill

The Principle that the Cause is greater than its Effect

Phronesis , Volume 21 (2): 146 – Jan 1, 1976

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1976 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0031-8868
eISSN
1568-5284
DOI
10.1163/156852876X00101
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

146 The Principle that the Cause is greater than its Effect A. C. LLOYD Transmission theory o f causation here is a mediaeval dogma that a cause must be greater than or equal to its effect. It is widely known, even to those unfamiliar with the Schoolmen, from its use in one of Descartes' proofs of the existence of God (Discours de la méthode, 4e ptie ; Meditatio III). Only a perfect being, Descartes argued, can be responsible for our possessing the idea of perfection, for any other cause (such as our parents) would necessarily be inferior to this effect. The peculiar theory (of esse objectivum) which makes 'idea of perfection' function like 'perfect idea' does not affect the dogma in question. It is easy to conceive and may be difficult not to conceive that simply by lying in a cold bath someone can heat the water at most to his own body temperature. If this conception is generalised we have a notion of causation as the transferring or transmitting of some property from one thing to another. It is the notion which accounts for the Scholastic principle in Descartes' thinking. This can be inferred from his own

Journal

PhronesisBrill

Published: Jan 1, 1976

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