Single Idea 12288

[catalogued under 9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 9. Sameness]

Full Idea

Things which are the same specifically or generically are not necessarily the same or cannot possibly be the same numerically.

Gist of Idea

Numerical sameness and generic sameness are not the same

Source

Aristotle (Topics [c.331 BCE], 152b32)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics and Topica', ed/tr. Tredennick,H/Forster,ES [Harvard 1960], p.655


A Reaction

See also Idea 12266. This looks to me to be a pretty precise anticipation of Peirce's type/token distinction, but without the terminology. It is reassuring that Aristotle spotted it, as that makes it more likely to be a genuine distinction.

Related Idea

Idea 12266 'Same' is mainly for names or definitions, but also for propria, and for accidents [Aristotle]