For the first principle, as Simplicius in the above passage justly observes, is all things prior to all; i.e. he comprehends all things causally, this being the most transcendent mode of comprehension.

As all things therefore, considered as subsisting causally in deity, are transcendently more excellent than they are when considered as effects preceding from him, hence that mighty and all-comprehending whole, the first principle, is said to be all things prior to all; priority here denoting exempt transcendency.

- A whole prior to parts is that which causally contains parts in itself.

The real question about causation is not how events can be connected causally, but why are certain antecedents preferred and dissected out and entitled 'causes.'

Facts do not appear as causally connected, nor, if they did, would this guarantee that they will continue to do so in the future.

We do not causally connect every chance pair of successive events, but those only which have been repeatedly observed together.

This causal unity is the cardinal idea of plot which by definition is a series of events causally related and conceived as a unit, technically called the action.