ABSTRACT
Emmet (1984) distinguished between immanent and transeunt causation. This can most easily be described in terms used by Johnson (1921). Johnson defmed a continuent as a persistent character recognisable over time, and an occurrent as a change in a continuent. Transeunt causation is exemplified by one continuent external to another acting upon it, and immanent causation is exemplified by a change of state within a single continuent. Emmet's view of immanent causation is 'as a mode of functioning internal to a system, and producing change and development over time' (p. 81). This distinction is different from Aristotle's in that the animistic and anthropomorphic content of the Aristotelian version has been abolished.
