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Single Idea 11194

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / a. Nature of Being ]

Full Idea

Aristotle says there are two proper uses of the term 'being': firstly, for whatever falls into one of Aristotle's ten basic categories of thing, and secondly for whatever makes a proposition true.

Gist of Idea

Being is either what falls in the categories, or what makes propositions true

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1017a21-35) by Thomas Aquinas - De Ente et Essentia (Being and Essence) p.91

Book Reference

Aquinas,Thomas: 'Selected Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. McDermott,Timothy [OUP 1993], p.91


A Reaction

The first sounds circular, because the categories must be selected for whatever has being (see Idea 11196). The first sounds Fregean, and very congenial to modern philosophy (though you need a clear notion of 'true'). Or it is being as truth-makers.

Related Idea

Idea 11196 Essence is something in common between the natures which sort things into categories [Aquinas]