The Unity of the First Cause and the Multiplicity of Existence in the Philosophy of Albert the Great

Abstract

The purpose of the article consists in demonstration in the metaphysics and cosmology of Albert
the Great that the esse primum creatum (first created being) and the beings have the necessary dependence from the First Cause as sufficient basis of being of the Universe. In order to achieve
these purposes it is necessary to solve the following tasks: (1) explication of meaning of the concept “the first created being”; (2) an analysis of the differences between thing’s being and being of
God by Albert; (3) to disclose the meaning of the influence of the beings and their existence from
One and the explanation of the origin of multiplicity. The method of research consists in studying
of the original Latin sources, as well as related works on the history of philosophy, and with
the hermeneutics of obtained results. The main conclusions of researches can be specified as follows. The first created being derives from God and is not in potency to that what flows from him.
The process of outflow comes from the act in act. The Efficient Cause transmits the existence to
other things through being and by way of gradually decreasing the degree of being’s intensity.
The flow of being is limited and becomes more specific. The multiplicity of specific forms of being is reduced to the unity of their objective meanings (rationes), and the difference of rationes is
reduced to the unity of the First Cause. The rejection of the One as a universal causality had to
lead to revision of the principles of classical metaphysics as was the case in the 18th century.