Single Idea 12980

[catalogued under 2. Reason / D. Definition / 5. Genus and Differentia]

Full Idea

The genus can very often be turned into the differentia, ...so that in place of saying that man is a 'reasonable animal' we could, if language permitted, say that man is an 'animable rational', a rational substance with animal nature.

Gist of Idea

Genus and differentia might be swapped, and 'rational animal' become 'animable rational'

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 3.03)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.292


A Reaction

This is a very telling point which rather undermines any dogmatic approach to what Aristotle says about these sorts of definitions. I don't find this account of definitions very helpful anyway. Leibniz links it to the order of cataloguing.