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Full Idea
Suppose parts are prior to the whole - then, since the acute angle is a part of the right angle, and a finger is part of an animal, this would mean the acute angle and the finger were prior, but received opinion says otherwise.
Gist of Idea
It is unclear whether acute angles are prior to right angles, or fingers to men
Source
Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1034b24)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.201
10954 | It is unclear whether acute angles are prior to right angles, or fingers to men [Aristotle] |
9849 | Maybe a concept is 'prior' to another if it can be defined without the second concept [Dummett] |
9850 | An argument for conceptual priority is greater simplicity in explanation [Dummett] |
10746 | Conceptual priority is barely intelligible [Oliver] |