Single Idea 11837

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 3. Predicates]

Full Idea

'White' signifies nothing but a qualification, whereas the species ('man') and the genus ('animal') mark off the qualification of substance - they signify substance of a certain qualification.

Gist of Idea

Some predicates signify qualification of a substance, others the substance itself

Source

Aristotle (Categories [c.331 BCE], 03b18)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Categories and De Interpretatione', ed/tr. Ackrill,J.R. [OUP 1963], p.10


A Reaction

This is making a fundamental distinction between two different types of predication. I would describe them as one attributing a real property, and the other attributing a category (as a result of the properties). I don't think 'substance' helps here.