summa-contra-gentiles

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CHAPTER LXVIII
yet the form of a body. And a thing
is not less one that
is composed of an intellectual substance and corporeal
matter, than that which results from the form of fire and
its matter, but perhaps more so : since the more a form
overcomes matter, the more one is that which is made from
it and matter.
it does not
Nowjhough form and^matte:- ^-"r-f^ one being,
follow that m atter always equ...
.
^^^ing of the form.. In
fact, the_more noble the form, the more it
surpasses matter
in its being . This is clear to one who looks into the operations
of forms,
i73
from the consideration of which we know
as it is.
their natures, since a thing operates according
C onsequently a form whose operation surpasses the condition
of matter, itsel f also surpasses matter in the excellence
of its being.
For we find certain lowest forms, which are capable of
no operation except such as comes within the compass
of the qualities which are the dispositions of matter, for
instance heat, cold, moisture and dryness, rarity, density,
gravity and levity, and the like ; such are the elemental
forms. Consequently these forms are altogether material,
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and wholly merged in matter.
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Above these we find the forms of _mixed bodies.: and
these, although they do not extend to any operations that
cannot be accomplished through the aforesaid qualities,
nevertheless sometimes produce those effects by a higher
power which they receive from the heavenly bodies, and
which is
consequent upon their species ; thus the loadstone
attracts iron.
Again, above these we find certain forms whose operations
include some which surpass the power of the aforesaid
qualities, although the same qualities assist organically in
their operation such are the souls of plants ; ;
and these
again are like not only to the powers of heavenly bodies,
in surpassing the active and passive qualities, but also
to the movers of heavenly bodies, inasmuch as they are
the principle s of movement ^living things, which move
themselves.
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