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Single Idea 12146

[filed under theme 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 4. Essence as Definition ]

Full Idea

If a definition is the recognition of some essence, it is clear that such items are not essences.

Gist of Idea

Definitions recognise essences, so are not themselves essences

Source

Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 90b17)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.50

A Reaction

So definitions are not themselves essences (as some modern thinkers claim). The idea seems obvious to me, but it is a warning against a simplistic view of Aristotelian essences, and a reminder that such things are real, not verbal.

The 72 ideas from 'Posterior Analytics'

11994 Aristotelian essences are properties mentioned at the starting point of a science [Aristotle, by Kung]
12072 For Aristotle knowledge is explanatory, involving understanding, and principles or causes [Aristotle, by Witt]
12073 'Episteme' means grasping causes, universal judgments, explanation, and teaching [Aristotle, by Witt]
23309 Aristotle's concepts of understanding and explanation mean he is not a pure empiricist [Aristotle, by Frede,M]
24068 Demonstration is more than entailment, as the explanatory order must match the causal order [Aristotle, by Koslicki]
17310 Aristotle gets asymmetric consequence from demonstration, which reflects real causal priority [Aristotle, by Koslicki]
21359 Aristotle doesn't actually apply his theory of demonstration to his practical science [Leroi on Aristotle]
12357 Explanation and generality are inseparable [Aristotle, by Wedin]
12363 Everything is either asserted or denied truly [Aristotle]
12364 We understand a thing when we know its explanation and its necessity [Aristotle]
12365 We can know by demonstration, which is a scientific deduction leading to understanding [Aristotle]
1667 Premises must be true, primitive and immediate, and prior to and explanatory of conclusions [Aristotle]
12366 We only understand something when we know its explanation [Aristotle]
12367 What is most universal is furthest away, and the particulars are nearest [Aristotle]
12368 Negation takes something away from something [Aristotle]
1668 An axiom is a principle which must be understood if one is to learn anything [Aristotle]
12369 A unit is what is quantitatively indivisible [Aristotle]
1669 The foundation or source is stronger than the thing it causes [Aristotle]
1670 When you understand basics, you can't be persuaded to change your mind [Aristotle]
1671 Sceptics say justification is an infinite regress, or it stops at the unknowable [Aristotle]
1672 Maybe everything could be demonstrated, if demonstration can be reciprocal or circular [Aristotle]
12370 Some understanding, of immediate items, is indemonstrable [Aristotle]
12371 A demonstration is a deduction which proceeds from necessities [Aristotle]
12372 The essence of a triangle comes from the line, mentioned in any account of triangles [Aristotle]
12373 Something holds universally when it is proved of an arbitrary and primitive case [Aristotle]
10918 Demonstrative understanding rests on necessary features of the thing in itself [Aristotle]
12374 Demonstrations must be necessary, and that depends on the middle term [Aristotle]
12375 Whatever holds of a kind intrinsically holds of it necessarily [Aristotle]
1673 Knowledge proceeds from principles, so it is hard to know if we know [Aristotle]
1674 All demonstration is concerned with existence, axioms and properties [Aristotle]
13004 Aristotle's axioms (unlike Euclid's) are assumptions awaiting proof [Aristotle, by Leibniz]
1675 Separate Forms aren't needed for logic, but universals (one holding of many) are essential [Aristotle]
12376 Demonstrations by reductio assume excluded middle [Aristotle]
12377 Mathematics is concerned with forms, not with superficial properties [Aristotle]
12378 The reason why is the key to knowledge [Aristotle]
16725 Some knowledge is lost if you lose a sense, and there is no way the knowledge can be replaced [Aristotle]
1677 We can forget the Forms, as they are irrelevant, and not needed in giving demonstrations [Aristotle]
12148 Demonstrations are syllogisms which give explanations [Aristotle]
1678 Universals give better explanations, because they are self-explanatory and primitive [Aristotle]
1679 Universal demonstrations are about thought; particular demonstrations lead to perceptions [Aristotle]
1680 Demonstration is better with fewer presuppositions, and it is quicker if these are familiar [Aristotle]
1681 Units are positionless substances, and points are substances with position [Aristotle]
12379 You cannot understand anything through perception [Aristotle]
1683 We learn universals from many particulars [Aristotle]
12380 Universals are valuable because they make the explanations plain [Aristotle]
1684 Two falsehoods can be contrary to one another [Aristotle]
12381 What is necessary cannot be otherwise [Aristotle]
1685 No one has mere belief about something if they think it HAS to be true [Aristotle]
1686 What we seek and understand are facts, reasons, existence, and identity [Aristotle]
12382 What it is and why it is are the same; screening defines and explains an eclipse [Aristotle]
12145 Definitions are of what something is, and that is universal [Aristotle]
12146 Definitions recognise essences, so are not themselves essences [Aristotle]
12147 The principles of demonstrations are definitions [Aristotle]
12383 There must be definitions before demonstration is possible [Aristotle]
1687 Why are being terrestrial and a biped combined in the definition of man, but being literate and musical aren't? [Aristotle]
1688 Properties must be proved, but not essence; but existents are not a kind, so existence isn't part of essence [Aristotle]
1689 Explanation is of the status of a thing, inferences to it, initiation of change, and purpose [Aristotle]
1690 A stone travels upwards by a forced necessity, and downwards by natural necessity [Aristotle]
17039 The predicates of a thing's nature are necessary to it [Aristotle]
1691 Aim to get definitions of the primitive components, thus establishing the kind, and work towards the attributes [Aristotle]
12384 Definition by division needs predicates, which are well ordered and thorough [Aristotle]
9066 You can define objects by progressively identifying what is the same and what is different [Aristotle]
1692 If you shouldn't argue in metaphors, then you shouldn't try to define them either [Aristotle]
12385 Are particulars explained more by universals, or by other particulars? [Aristotle]
1693 Animals may have some knowledge if they retain perception, but understanding requires reasons to be given [Aristotle]
9067 Many memories of the same item form a single experience [Aristotle]
9068 Perception creates primitive immediate principles by building a series of firm concepts [Aristotle]
9069 A perception lodging in the soul creates a primitive universal, which becomes generalised [Aristotle]
9070 We learn primitives and universals by induction from perceptions [Aristotle]
18910 To seek truth, study the real connections between subjects and attributes [Aristotle]
11283 There is pure deductive reasoning, and explanatory demonstration reasoning [Aristotle, by Politis]
12075 An Aristotelian definition is causal [Aristotle, by Witt]