ABSTRACT
It has become apparent that nothing is realized from its cause unless it becomes a necessity. It has also become known that a necessity due to a determined cause is in a single state, whereas a change is never due to a single state. Should there be a change from one state to another, this change will differ from a change from the second state to a third state. If the first of two motions is brought forth due to something, the second and third motions will result from another thing. In short, one movement in itself is not to be preferred (ūlātar) to another movement in itself, nor should it matter whether one comes first or last. In order to have a particular motion, one of the following conditions must be met. (1) Instead of being in another motion, the thing being moved may not be in its natural state. (2) Its natural place may be at another place, as for example in magnetism (maghnātīs) where a body is moved from one place to another place. (3) There may be a change from one quality (kaifiyyatī) to another quality, as when something is moved one way when it is hot and another way when it becomes cold. (4) There may be a change from one will to another will. In short, there must be a change in a state, for a stationary (istāda) entity does not in itself necessitate a change of state. Moreover, if an entity rests at one place, it does not move from that place to another place unless it is receptive to motion.
