Principle

(principium), a term frequent- ly used for the cause, source, or origin of any » thing, In which sense we say, the principles of thinking, of willing, . In physics, we must ever have recourse to a first principle, which is God. The Manichees admit of two principles, the one of good, the other of evil; which they est a- blish in the quality of two contrary deities, constantly opposing each other, See Manr- cHEE. According to the doctrine of Pelagius, our own wills are the principles of our good actions, - and we ourselves the principles of our good _ wills. Principle is defined, among the school philo- _ sophers, to be that from which any thing is, is done, or known; unde a liquid est, fit, aut cog- * noscifur; which is a very extensive significa- tion, and agrees to all kinds of principles. Thus, the premises are principles, in respect of the conclusion; and thus fire and every ' other agent are the principles of things which they produce. The Thomists define principle to the like effect: id a quo aliquod proc edit aliquo modo. _ ’ Philosophers usually distinguish principles into those of being, principia e endi; and those _ of knowing, principta cog no scend i, or principia rei, and cognitionts. Of the first they make two kinds; viz..principles of origination, which are those from - which something proceeds really the same with the principle. And principles of SeRERECORR _in which sense, any cause may be a principle, _ in respect of the thing caused; or a subject, _ in respect of the accidents inherent in it. The second is that from which we borrow _ or derive our knowledge of some other thing; _@r, it is that which makes the thing be known,