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Single Idea 5016

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

Full Idea

The five commonly enumerated universals are: genus, species, difference, property and accident.

Gist of Idea

Five universals: genus, species, difference, property, accident

Source

René Descartes (Principles of Philosophy [1646], I.59)

Book Ref

Descartes,René: 'Philosophical Essays and Correspondence', ed/tr. Ariew,Roger [Hackett 2000], p.246

A Reaction

Interestingly, this seems to be Descartes passing on his medieval Aristotelian inheritance, in which things are defined by placing them in a class, and then noting what distinguishes them within that class.

The 23 ideas from 'Principles of Philosophy'

3656 The greatest good for a state is true philosophers [Descartes]
3658 Total doubt can't include your existence while doubting [Descartes]
5004 We can know basic Principles without further knowledge, but not the other way round [Descartes]
12730 We will not try to understand natural or divine ends, or final causes [Descartes]
16601 Matter is not hard, heavy or coloured, but merely extended in space [Descartes]
15987 Physics only needs geometry or abstract mathematics, which can explain and demonstrate everything [Descartes]
5005 I think, therefore I am, because for a thinking thing to not exist is a contradiction [Descartes]
5006 'Thought' is all our conscious awareness, including feeling as well as understanding [Descartes]
5007 Most errors of judgement result from an inaccurate perception of the facts [Descartes]
5009 We do not praise the acts of an efficient automaton, as their acts are necessary [Descartes]
5008 The greatest perfection of man is to act by free will, and thus merit praise or blame [Descartes]
5010 Our free will is so self-evident to us that it must be a basic innate idea [Descartes]
5011 There are two ultimate classes of existence: thinking substance and extended substance [Descartes]
5012 'Nothing comes from nothing' is an eternal truth found within the mind [Descartes]
5013 A substance needs nothing else in order to exist [Descartes]
16630 If we perceive an attribute, we infer the existence of some substance [Descartes]
16633 A substance has one principal property which is its nature and essence [Descartes]
5014 We can understand thinking occuring without imagination or sensation [Descartes]
5016 Five universals: genus, species, difference, property, accident [Descartes]
5015 A universal is a single idea applied to individual things that are similar to one another [Descartes]
5017 In thinking we shut ourselves off from other substances, showing our identity and separateness [Descartes]
5018 Even if tightly united, mind and body are different, as God could separate them [Descartes]
16744 All powers can be explained by obvious features like size, shape and motion of matter [Descartes]