more on this theme     |     more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 22979

[filed under theme 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 1. Ontologies ]

Full Idea

I am told that I can ask three sorts of questions - whether a thing is, what it is, and what sort it is.

Gist of Idea

Three main questions seem to be whether a thing is, what it is, and what sort it is

Source

Augustine (Confessions [c.398], X.10)

Book Ref

Augustine: 'Confessions', ed/tr. Pine-Coffin,R.S. [Penguin 1961], p.217


A Reaction

This seems to be a very Aristotelian approach. I am pleased to see that what it is and what sort it is are not conflated. The first one must be its individual essence, and the second its generic essence.