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Single Idea 15034

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 1. Universals ]

Full Idea

I shall beg off talking of a) whether genera and species are real or situated in bare thoughts alone, b) whether as real they are bodies or incorporeals, and c) whether they are separated or in sensibles and have their reality in connection with them.

Gist of Idea

Are genera and species real or conceptual? bodies or incorporeal? in sensibles or separate from them?

Source

Porphyry (Isagoge ('Introduction') [c.295], (2))

Book Ref

'Five Texts on Medieval Prob of Universals', ed/tr. Spade,Paul Vincent [Hackett 1994], p.1


A Reaction

This passage, picking up on Aristotle, seems to be the original source that grew into the medievel debate about universals. It seems to rather neatly lay out the agenda for the universals debate which is still with us.


The 22 ideas from Porphyry

Are genera and species real or conceptual? bodies or incorporeal? in sensibles or separate from them? [Porphyry]
Civil virtues make us behave benevolently, and thereby unite citizens [Porphyry]
Civil virtues control the passions, and make us conform to our nature [Porphyry]
Purificatory virtues detach the soul completely from the passions [Porphyry]
There are practical, purificatory, contemplative, and exemplary virtues [Porphyry]
We should avoid the pleasures of love, or at least, should not enact our dreams [Porphyry]
Nature binds or detaches body to soul, but soul itself joins and detaches soul from body [Porphyry]
Philosophy has its own mode of death, by separating soul from body [Porphyry]
The presence of the incorporeal is only known by certain kinds of disposition [Porphyry]
Intelligence is aware of itself, so the intelligence is both the thinker and the thought [Porphyry]
Time is the circular movement of the soul [Porphyry]
Some think time is seen at rest, as well as in movement [Porphyry]
Memory is not conserved images, but reproduction of previous thought [Porphyry]
Unified real existence is neither great nor small, though greatness and smallness participate in it [Porphyry]
The soul is bound to matter by the force of its own disposition [Porphyry]
Individual souls are all connected, though distinct, and without dividing universal Soul [Porphyry]
Diversity arises from the power of unity [Porphyry]
The soul is everywhere and nowhere in the body, and must be its cause [Porphyry]
God is nowhere, and hence everywhere [Porphyry]
Everything existing proceeds from divinity, and is within divinity [Porphyry]
Successful introspection reveals the substrate along with the object of thought [Porphyry]
Justice is each person fulfilling his function [Porphyry]