Generatione

Generatione is a term found in Latin-language philosophical and theological writings that denotes the act or process of generation—the bringing forth of a new being from a parent or source. In classical and medieval contexts, generation is discussed alongside corruption as a fundamental mode by which things come into or pass out of existence. The form generatione appears in constructions that indicate mechanism or instrument, such as “by generation” or “through generation.”

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin generatio, with generatione representing a grammatical form used to express means or agency. In scholastic glossaries and treatises, generatione is often encountered in discussions of natural philosophy, form and matter, and the origins of substances. The concept spans inquiries into how beings acquire their determinate nature and how changes in form unfold over time.

Historical context: In Aristotelian and later scholastic thought, generation is central to explanations of natural processes and the emergence of new qualities or substances. The term is frequently linked with debates about potency and act, as well as with theological considerations of origin and creation. While generatione can denote physical production in the natural world, it also appears in broader metaphysical discussions about principle, form, and becoming.

Modern interpretation: In contemporary scholarship, Generatione is primarily encountered as a historical or linguistic term within Latin-focused studies. In non-Latin sources, the English word generation is used, and scholars occasionally repurpose the term for discussions of generative processes in philosophy, biology, or complexity theory. When used today as a label or name, Generatione typically references its classical roots rather than a specific modern doctrine.

See also: Generatio, Generation, Potency and act, Scholasticism, Emanation.