Commentary on the Metaphysics
Aquinas follows Aristotle’s inquiry into being, substance, causes and the first principle. He explains the progression of arguments and addresses their difficulties.
Understanding the text
This mature commentary relies on a medieval Latin translation and a long history of Greek and Arabic readings.
Key points
- 01
Being
Being is said in several ways, whose diversity calls for an intelligible principle of unity.
- 02
Substance
Substance occupies a central place among the different meanings of being.
- 03
Causes
Understanding a thing requires examining several types of cause rather than a single explanation.
How to read it
Compare Aristotle’s passage with the commentary and distinguish Thomas’s reconstruction from the ancient text.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗