If, then, all causes and reasons are alike in this respect, and if
this is the means to full knowledge in the case of final causes such
as we have exemplified, it follows that in the case of the other
causes also full knowledge is attained when an attribute no longer
inheres because of something else. Thus, when we learn that exterior
angles are equal to four right angles because they are the exterior
angles of an isosceles, there still remains the question 'Why has
isosceles this attribute?' and its answer 'Because it is a triangle,
and a triangle has it because a triangle is a rectilinear figure.'
If rectilinear figure possesses the property for no further reason, at
this point we have full knowledge-but at this point our knowledge
has become commensurately universal, and so we conclude that
commensurately universal demonstration is superior.
(6) The more demonstration becomes particular the more it sinks into
an indeterminate manifold, while universal demonstration tends to
the simple and determinate. But objects so far as they are an
indeterminate manifold are unintelligible, so far as they are
determinate, intelligible: they are therefore intelligible rather in
so far as they are universal than in so far as they are particular.
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