Single Idea 12309

[catalogued under 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 2. Demonstration]

Full Idea

It is not even possible for there to be a science of the accidental, ...for any field of science is either 'always' or 'for the most part'.

Gist of Idea

There cannot be a science of accidentals, but only of general truths

Source

Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1065b30-)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.336


A Reaction

His example of an accident (and thus outside of any science) is a cold spell in high summer. This leaves us trying to explain the unusually tame tiger. Copi comments (p.717), rightly I think, that modern science disagrees with Aristotle on this.

Related Idea

Idea 12310 Real essences are scientifically knowable, but so are non-essential properties [Copi]