Single Idea 11233

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / d. Substance defined]

Full Idea

The claim that 'proté ousia' is substance is a particular answer to 'What is proté ousia?', so 'substance' is not what it means. The Latin 'substantia' translates Aristotle's 'to hupokeimenon' ('that which lies under').

Gist of Idea

In Aristotle, 'proté ousia' is 'primary being', and 'to hupokeimenon' is 'that which lies under' (or 'substance')

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], ousia) by Vassilis Politis - Aristotle and the Metaphysics 1.3

Book Reference

Politis,Vasilis: 'Aristotle and the Metaphysics' [Routledge 2004], p.12


A Reaction

It seems that in 'Categories' Aristotle identified 'primary being' with 'that which lies under', but the notion of 'essence' comes into the picture in 'Metaphysics'. Big problems of textual exegesis.