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Single Idea 10954

[filed under theme 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / i. Conceptual priority ]

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

The 4 ideas with the same theme [how concepts depend upon one another]:

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]