The philosophy of nature is the speculative study of the entire cosmos of changeable being and its causes. This book serves as an introduction to the philosophy of nature in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition, with the purpose of assisting the education of seminarians in the Catholic Church. It considers the definition of natural philosophy as a part of philosophy as well as its methods and goals. The key principles and topics of natural philosophy are also included—for example: nature, the four causes, motion, and the causes of motion. Throughout, the relationship of our foundational knowledge of the natural order is connected to the natural sciences, ethics, and theology. Readers are provided with resources for pursuing various topics in greater depth; central questions, difficulties, and objections are raised to promote discussion and further reflection, including the definition of motion, finality in nature, the relationship of the human person to the cosmos, and the existence of God.
