Weariness and agility

Use in the book

Limited quality is said to tire because it is tied to particular matter, position, and parts, so it cannot sustain perpetual uniform motion. Celestial soul is not extended with its body, and celestial body is described as remarkably suited to being moved. These are separate reasons for rejecting fatigue: the mover's mode of being and the recipient's readiness. The comparison with human soul should not be extended into a denial of bodily exhaustion. Elsewhere human reason is explicitly occupied by the demanding administration of a needy body, unlike celestial reason, which can rest in mind.

Breeze moving dust and wind shaking mountains illustrate how a subtle mover might affect bodies; heavenly souls are then said to turn exceptionally subtle bodies with the slightest command. The final judgment locates motion's principal origin and end in stability so that toil and transgression of bounds do not become ultimate explanations. Ease is thus linked with appropriate order, not with inactivity.

Places to read

1. IV.1.55–562bounded quality cannot explain unwearying celestial motion
2. IV.2.11bodily need makes human administration laborious
3. IV.2.18–192mover and movable contribute distinct explanations of ease
4. IV.2.27stable direction prevents toil and passage beyond bounds from becoming the motion's ultimate condition

Translation in this edition

“Agile” and “readiness to be moved” describe bodily receptivity, while “efficacy in moving” belongs to soul. Keeping this active/passive contrast prevents ease from being attributed indiscriminately to one side alone.

aura / viscera / quassare

aura / viscera / quassare. Printed forms: aura; quassat; visceribus.

Breeze; inward parts; to shake. Dust and mountains supply examples making subtle causes of bodily motion less surprising within the argument. References: IV.2.19. See Weariness and agility.

facile / difficilis

facile / difficilis. Printed forms: difficili; facile; facillime.

Easily; difficult or laborious. Forms pass easily through a suitable mediator, and celestial bodies move readily, whereas needy human bodies demand difficult administration. References: IV.1.32, IV.2.11, IV.2.19. See Weariness and agility.

fatigare

fatigare. Printed forms: fatigari; fatigatur.

To tire or become unable to sustain an operation. Bounded quality is contrasted with an unextended soul moving an exceptionally suitable celestial body. References: IV.1.55, IV.2.18. See Weariness and agility.

ineptus / agilis

ineptus / agilis. Printed forms: agile; ineptum.

Unfitted for movement; easily moved or agile. Celestial body's readiness contrasts with earthly body's resistance, complementing the soul's unextended agency. References: IV.2.18. See Weariness and agility.

labor / transgressio

labor / transgressio. Printed forms: labor; transgressioque.

Toil; passing beyond bounds. The closing argument requires a stable principal origin and end so celestial motion does not terminate in these defects. References: IV.2.27. See Weariness and agility.

proclivitas / efficacia

proclivitas / efficacia. Printed forms: efficacia; proclivitas.

Readiness to be moved; efficacy in moving. Soul's active power and body's receptive inclination are explicitly complementary. References: IV.2.19. See Weariness and agility.