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Single Idea 11261
[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / L. Paradox / 2. Aporiai
]
Full Idea
The equality of opposite reasonings is the cause of aporia; for it is when we reason on both [sides of a question] and it appears to us that everything can come about either way, that we are in a state of aporia about which of the two ways to take up.
Gist of Idea
Puzzles arise when reasoning seems equal on both sides
Source
Aristotle (Topics [c.331 BCE], 145b17), quoted by Vassilis Politis - Aristotle and the Metaphysics 3.1
Book Ref
Politis,Vasilis: 'Aristotle and the Metaphysics' [Routledge 2004], p.69
A Reaction
Other philosophers give up on the subject in this situation, but I love Aristotle because he takes this to be the place where philosophy begins.
The
34 ideas
from 'Topics'
12259
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Reasoning is when some results follow necessarily from certain claims
[Aristotle]
|
12260
|
Dialectic starts from generally accepted opinions
[Aristotle]
|
12261
|
Differentia are generic, and belong with genus
[Aristotle]
|
12262
|
An 'idion' belongs uniquely to a thing, but is not part of its essence
[Aristotle]
|
12263
|
'Genus' is part of the essence shared among several things
[Aristotle]
|
12264
|
An 'accident' is something which may possibly either belong or not belong to a thing
[Aristotle]
|
12265
|
All water is the same, because of a certain similarity
[Aristotle]
|
12266
|
'Same' is mainly for names or definitions, but also for propria, and for accidents
[Aristotle]
|
12267
|
There are ten categories: essence, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, position, state, activity, passivity
[Aristotle]
|
12271
|
Induction is the progress from particulars to universals
[Aristotle]
|
12272
|
We describe the essence of a particular thing by means of its differentiae
[Aristotle]
|
12273
|
Unit is the starting point of number
[Aristotle]
|
12274
|
Begin examination with basics, and subdivide till you can go no further
[Aristotle]
|
12275
|
We value friendship just for its own sake
[Aristotle]
|
12276
|
Justice and self-control are better than courage, because they are always useful
[Aristotle]
|
12277
|
Friendship is preferable to money, since its excess is preferable
[Aristotle]
|
12278
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'Being' and 'oneness' are predicated of everything which exists
[Aristotle]
|
12279
|
The differentia indicate the qualities, but not the essence
[Aristotle]
|
12280
|
Genus gives the essence better than the differentiae do
[Aristotle]
|
12281
|
Man is intrinsically a civilized animal
[Aristotle]
|
12282
|
An individual property has to exist (in past, present or future)
[Aristotle]
|
12283
|
In definitions the first term to be assigned ought to be the genus
[Aristotle]
|
12284
|
Everything that is has one single essence
[Aristotle]
|
11261
|
Puzzles arise when reasoning seems equal on both sides
[Aristotle]
|
12285
|
The definition is peculiar to one thing, not common to many
[Aristotle]
|
13269
|
In the case of a house the parts can exist without the whole, so parts are not the whole
[Aristotle]
|
12286
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If two things are the same, they must have the same source and origin
[Aristotle]
|
12287
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Two identical things have the same accidents, they are the same; if the accidents differ, they're different
[Aristotle]
|
12288
|
Numerical sameness and generic sameness are not the same
[Aristotle]
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12289
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The genera and the differentiae are part of the essence
[Aristotle]
|
12290
|
Destruction is dissolution of essence
[Aristotle]
|
12291
|
There can't be one definition of two things, or two definitions of the same thing
[Aristotle]
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12292
|
Definitions are easily destroyed, since they can contain very many assertions
[Aristotle]
|
12293
|
We say 'so in cases of this kind', but how do you decide what is 'of this kind'?
[Aristotle]
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