The Natural Philosophy of William Gilbert and His Predecessors

d causal hierarchy, it is not always necessary that actualization pass from the First Cause down through each step of the hierarchy to terminate in the qualities of the individual being. Some of the steps could be by-passed: for instance man's body is under the direct influence of the celestial bodies, his intellect under that of the angels and his will under God.[20] Another example of effects not produced through the tangible prime qualities is that of the tide-producing influence of the moon on the waters of the ocean or the powers of the loadstone over iron. Such causal relations, where some members of the normal causal chain have been circumvented, are called occult.[21]

[20] St. Thomas Aquinas, op. cit. (footnote 19), vol. 9, Summa contra gentiles, lib. 3, cap. 92 (Quo modo dicitur aliquis bene fortunatus et quo modo adjuvatur homo ex superioribus causis), p. 343.

[21] St. Thomas Aquinas, op. cit. (footnote 19), vol. 17 Opuscula, De operationibus occultis naturae ad q