A Scholastic List of Philosophical Axioms

In Latin (For precision and clarity)

In English

Logica

Logic:

1.1 Impossibile est idem secundem idem simul

esse et non esse (principle of
non-contradiction).

1.1 It is impossible that the same thing be and not be at

the same time and in the same respect.

1.2 Omnis comparatio claudicat nisi in puncto

comparationis.

1.2 Each comparison limps except in the point of

comparison.
1.3 There cannot be an argument against a fact.

1.3 Contra factum non fit argumentum.

1.4 He who proves too much, proves nothing.
1.4 Qui nimis probat nihil probat.
1.5 With someone denying the principles, don't dispute.
1.5 Cum negante principia nequit disputari.
1.6 Definitio declarat essentiam; verbum
significat definitionem.

1.6 The definition declares the essence, the word

signifies the definition.
1.7 What is freely affirmed can be freely denied.

1.7 Quad gratis affirmatur, gratis negatur.

1.8 Parvus error in principiis, magnus in
conclusionibus.

1.8 A small error in the principles is large in the

conclusions.
1.9 There is no science of singulars.

1.9 De singularibus non est scientia.

1.10 Ab esse ad posse valet illatio.

1.10 An argument is valid only from being to the

possibility of being
Cosmology

Cosmologia:
2.1 Corruptio unius generatio alterius.

2.1 The corruption of one thing is the generation of

another thing.
2.2 Accidents do not migrate from subject to subject.

2.2 Accidens non migrat de subjecto in

subjectum.
2.3 Actions are of the supposit.
2.3 Actiones sunt suppositorum (of the substance
itself).
2.4 Individuum est incommunicabile (ineffabile).

2.4 The individual is incommunicable (and therefore

ineffable).
2.5 Nature abhors the void.

2.5 Natura abhorret a vacua.

2.6 Nature does nothing in vain.
2.6 Natura nihil facit inane. [I:75:6], [III:9:4],
[I:105:5]
2.7 Actio in distans simpliciter repugnat.

2.7 The action (act) at some distance is totally

repugnant. (Act if far, from potency can't reduce
it to act.)

2.8 No violent state lasts forever.

2.8 Nihil violentum perpetuum.
Psychology:
Psychologia:
3.1 Nihil in intellectu quod non prius in sensu.

3.1 Nothing is in the intellect which is not first in the

senses.
3.2 An inclination follows every form.

3.2 Omnem formam sequitur inclinatio (towards

its perfection).
3.3 Nothing is desired except what is apprehended.
3.3 Nihil appetitur nisi quod apprehenditur.
3.4 Nihil volitum nisi praecognitum (ignoti nulla
cupido).
3.5 Intellectus est universalium; sensus est
particularium. [I:75:6:@3]
3.6 Quod potest cognoscere aliqua, oportet ut
nihil eorum habeat in sua natura. [I:75:2]
3.7 Quidquid recipitur modo recipientis recipitur.
[I:75:5]

3.4 Nothing is desired unless it is pre-known. The

ignorant has no desire.
3.5 The intellect is of universals, the senses are of
particulars.
3.6 To be apt to know something, one must not have the
form of it in its own nature.
3.7 Whatever is received, is received in the mode of the
receiver.
3.8 The intellect in act is the intelligible object in act.

3.8 Intellectus in actu est intelligibile in actu

[I:85:2:ad1] (cognitum et cognoscens
sunt unum intentionalter).
3.9 The soul is in a certain way all things.
3.9 Anima est quodammodo omnia.
3.10 Good is self diffusing.
3.10 Bonum est diffusivum sui. [I:27:5:ad2]
3.11 Something is knowable insofar as it is in act.
3.11 Aliquid cognoscibile est inquantum est actu.
[I:12:1]
3.12 Abstractors are not liars.
3.12 Abstrahentium non est mendacium.
[I:85:1:ad1]
3.13 Voluntas se habet ad finem sicut intellectus
ad prima principia.
3.14 Sicut principium in speculativis, ita finis in
operativis.

3.13 The end is to the will what the first principles are to
the intellect.
3.14 The end is to operative things what the principle is
to the speculative ones.
3.15 The object known is properly in the knower, the
lover in the object loved.

3.15 Cognitum est proprie in cognoscente, amans

in amato. [I:82:3; II.II:23:6:ad1]
3.16 The intellect at the beginning is like a blank slate.
3.16 Intellectus in principio est sicut tabula rasa.
[I:79:2]
Metaphysics:

Metaphysica:

Act-Potency:

Actus-potentia:

4.1 "To act follows "to be." Action follows (and

manifests) the being of something.

4.1 Agere sequitur esse. [I:75:2-5]

4.2 There is no third way, there can be no middle
between being and nonbeing.
4.2 Tertium non datur (Non est medium inter esse
et non esse - foundation of all
4.3 The potency is ordained to its act and is specified by
distinctions).
its object.
4.3 Potentia dicitur ad actum et specificatur ab
objecto.

4.4 What is in potency, is not reduced to act except by a

being already in act.

4.4 Quod est in potentia non reducitur ad actum

nisi per ens actu.

4.5 It is of the nature of act to communicate itself insofar

as it is able.

4.5 Est de natura actus communicare se

inquantum potest. [I:27:1]

4.6 The more distant a potency is from act, the more

powerful an agent must be to actuate it.

4.6 Quantum distat potentia ab actu, tantum

potentior debet esse agens. [I:45:5:ad2;
II.II:141:7:ad1]

Essence-Existence:

Essentia-existentia:

5.1 Through the form the existence comes to a thing

(Form gives being).

5.1 Forma dat esse.

5.2 Each agent acts through its form.
5.2 Omne agens agit per formam.

5.3 Each agent produces an effect similar.

5.3 Omne agens agit sibi simile.

5.4 No created substance is operating per se (by itself).

5.4 Nulla substantia creata est per se operans

(substances need accidents to act).
[I:79:1; I:54:1-2; I:77:1]

5.5 What is "per accidens" is accidental to that which is

per se." (i.e. accidental presupposes essential,
see [6.19]).

5.5 Quod est per accidens accidit ei quod est per

se. [I:116; I:44:2]

Causality:
6.1 Whatever is moved is moved by another.

Causalitas:
6.1 Omne quod movetur ab alia movetur.
[I:2:3:ad1]

6.2 Nothing comes from nothing.

6.3 Every agent acts on account of an end.

6.2 Ex nihilo, nihil. [I:44:1-2]

6.4 The cause is greater than the effect.
6.3 Omne agens agit propter finem. [I.II:1:6]
6.4 Causa potior est effectu. [I:16:1:ad3; I:95:1;
I:88:3:ad2]

6.5 Nothing is the cause of itself.

6.5 Nihil est causa suiipsius (Nihil sui causa).

[I:3:4:ad1]

6.6 Causes are the causes of one another (in different

lines of causality).

6.6 Causae sunt ad invicem causae (sed aliter et

aliter).

6.7 The cause of the cause is the cause of the thing

caused.

6.7 Causa causae est causa causati. [I:103:6]

6.8 Take away the cause and you take away the effect.

6.8 Sublata causay tollitur effectus. [I:2:3]

6.9 If you have an effects you have necessarily a cause.

6.10 The end is the cause of causes.

6.9 Posito effectus, ponitur causa.

6.11 The end is first in intention and last in execution.
6.10 Finis est causa causarum. [I.II:1:6]
6.11 Finis est primus in intentione, ultimus in
executione. [I.II:1:3:ad2]
6.12 Qui vult finem, vult media ad finem.

6.12 Whoever desires the ends desires the means to that

end.
6.13 It is the proper of the most perfect cause to give the
dignity of secondary cause to imperfect effects.

6.14 A multitude does not have in itself the reason of its

6.13 Est proprium causae perfectissimae dare
unity.
dignitatem causae secundariae effectibus
imperfectis. [I:103:6]
6.15 What is composed does not have in itself the reason
of its unity.
6.14 Multitudo non reddit rationem unitatis suae.
[De Pot. 3:5]
6.16 Nothing acts except insofar as it is in act.
6.15 Compositio non reddit rationem unitatis
suae. [I:3:7]
6.16 Nihil agit nisi secundum quod est actu.
[I:2:3:ad1]

6.17 The order of ends corresponds to the order of

agents.
6.18 The corruption of the best is the worst (e.g.
corruption of the prince or of the principles).

6.17 Secundum ordinem agentium est ordo

finium.

6.19 What is essential is prior to that which is accidental.

6.18 Corruptio optimi pessima (Corruptio

principis et principii.) [II.II:154:12]

6.20 What is by participation is caused by that which is

by essence.

6.19 Per se prius est eo quod est per accidens.

6.21 No one can give what he does not have.

6.20 Quod est per participationem causatur ab eo

quod est per essentiam. [I:2:3:ad 4]

6.22 The higher the natures the more intimate is what

flows from it.
6.23 It is the proper of the best to make the best.

6.21 Nemo dat quod non habet. [I:2:3]

6.22 Quanto altior est natura, tanto id quod ex ea
emanat magis est intimum. [I:27:1]
6.23 Optimi est optima facere. [I:103:1]

6.24 The way someone is, is the way he determines what

end is fitting for him.
6.25 What can not-be, sometimes is not.

6.24 Qualis unusquisque est, talis finis videtur ei

conveniens. [I.II:9:2] apud GarrigouLagrange [I.II:1:7]

6.25 Quod possibile est non esse quandoque non
est. [I:2:3:ad3]
6.26 Quod possibile est fallere quandoque deficit.
[I:48]

6.26 What can be deficient sometimes is deficient.

6.27 Being (and miracles) must not be multiplied.
6.28 What is supreme in a genus is cause of everything
in the genus.

6.27 Entia (et miracula) non sunt multiplicanda.

6.29 What can be done by few principles is not done by

many.

6.28 Quod est supremum in genere est causa

omnium in genere. [I:44:1]

6.30 The part and the whole are the same regarding the
end.

6.29 Quod potest compleri per pauciora principia,

non fit per plura.
6.31 He who can do more can do less.
6.30 Idem oportet esse judicium de totius
multitudinis et unius. Pars et totum sunt
quodammodo idem. [II.II:61:1:ad2] [De
Reg. Principis 1:14]

First Principles of Reason:

7.1 Sufficient reason: Everything has sufficient reason of
being either in itself or in another.

6.31 Qui magis potest minus potest.

Prima Principia rationis

7.2 Identity: Every being is by itself constituted in its

own specific nature.

7.1 Sufficient reason: omne ens habet rationem

7.3 Non-contradiction: One and the same being cannot
sufficientem sui essendi in se aut in alio.
be and not be what it is.
7.2 Identity: Ens est ens.

7.4 Contraries: One and the same being cannot be and

not be at the same time and in the same sense
determined in two different ways.

7.3 Non-contradiction: Ens non est non ens.

7.4 Contraries: Non potest idem secundum idem
simul determinari diversis modis.

7.5 Causality: Every being which can not-be needs an

efficient cause to be. Or, all contingent beings
are from something else.
7.6 Finality: Every agent acts for an end.

7.5 Causality: Omne ens contingens est ab alio

(causa efficiente).

7.7 The same causes in the same circumstances produce

always the same effects.

7.6 Finality: omne agens agit propter finem.