Heat cannot be produced in an object which was not previously hot, except by something of at least the same order of perfection as heat.

: 155–156ĭescartes offers two explanations of his own: : 28 Similarly, a person can eminently possess money by owning assets that could readily be exchanged for it. To demonstrate this, a person can possess money formally by holding it on their person, or by storing it in a bank account.

If an item has the quality X eminently, it has it in a higher or grander form.If an item has the quality X formally, it has it in the literal or strict sense.A 'cause' is that which brings something into effect.: 54–56 It is used in the classical metaphysics of Plato and Aristotle, and features eminently in the works of Thomas Aquinas. René Descartes was not the founder of this philosophical claim.

: 430 Descartes' assertions were disputed by Thomas Hobbes in his 'Third Set of Objections' published in 1641. In his meditations, Descartes uses the CAP to support his trademark argument for the existence of God. 'Ex nihilo nihil fit', meaning ' Nothing comes from nothing'.-Lucretius : 146–482 Descartes defends CAP by quoting Roman philosopher Lucretius:

Reality principle