Single Idea 11293

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / f. Primary being]

Full Idea

Aristotle argues that non-primary beings either do not have an essence at all, or they have an essence only in a derived way.

Gist of Idea

Non-primary beings lack essence, or only have a derived essence

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], ousia) by Vassilis Politis - Aristotle and the Metaphysics 7.5

Book Reference

Politis,Vasilis: 'Aristotle and the Metaphysics' [Routledge 2004], p.215


A Reaction

While I presume that Aristotle takes 'being' to be a univocal concept, he nevertheless divides it into 'primary' (or independent) and 'non-primary' (or dependent) being. His main subject of study is the primary version.