274 MELVIN A. GLUTZ 



Often the doctrine of hylomorphism, for instance, is treated 

 as an application of the metaphysical doctrine of potency and 

 act to material things, which implies a genetic primacy of 

 metaphysics over natural philosophy. The presentation of 

 natural philosophy before metaphysics is important for all 

 who would give a synthetic picture of Thomism, even for those 

 historians who claim to describe the philosophical doctrine of 

 St. Thomas, rather than his theology. 



It is equally essential to distinguish natural philosophy from 

 theology. There is no theoretical difficulty to this. But some- 

 times the theological interest of authors impels them to give 

 undue prominence to problems that have theological import, 

 even to treat theological matters in philosophy, such as the 

 manner of the Eucharistic presence of our Lord and the possi- 

 bility of miracles. The due order and proportion of natural 

 philosophy require footnote status for strictly theological prob- 

 lems, no matter how worthy or interesting they may be in 

 themselves. Special caution must be exercised in taking proofs 

 bodily from St. Thomas' theological writings and using them 

 uncritically in natural philosophy. The theological light, or per- 

 haps a metaphysical orientation, may make a given proof incom- 

 patible with the proper method of natural philosophy. Extra- 

 contentual arguments are a disservice to natural philosophy. 



Another clarification is necessary for the purposes of keeping 

 due order in natural philosophy. What is the relation between 

 natural philosophy and modern empirical science .f* This is not 

 the place to treat this question ex professo, but we may lay 

 down a few propositions. Natural philosophy must not be 

 content with mere generalities; it must extend its investigations 

 into the realm of the specific. At its general stage it is still 

 confused knowledge awaiting further actualization. It must 

 apply its light to the whole cosmos and to all its parts. The 

 human drive for understanding will not be satisfied with less.^^ 



Modern science's monopoly of detailed phenomena causes 



-'Cf. In I Meteorologicorum, I, n. 1; R. J. Nogar, O. P., "Cosmology without a 

 Cosmos," in From An Abundant Spring (New York: Kenedy, 1952), pp. 363-392. 



