That by which something is.
- That is, the essence of a thing considered as the source of activity (id est: action) (Dubray, 1911).
- “From what has been said, then, it is plain that nature in the primary and strict sense is the essence of things which have in themselves, as such, a source of movement” (Aristotle, 350 B.C.).
- It is important to note that nature and essence describe the same aspect of being, contrasted by a mental distinction.
References
Aristotle. (350 B.C.). Metaphysics: Vol. V. https://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/metaphysics.5.v.html
Dubray, C. (1911). Nature. Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10715a.htm