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Single Idea 12090

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 14. Knowledge of Essences ]

Full Idea

Aristotle resolves his aporia about substances and universals by distinguishing between actual knowledge, which is of the individual, and potential knowledge, which is of the universal.

Clarification

An 'aporia' is a puzzle

Gist of Idea

Actual knowledge is of the individual, and potential knowledge of the universal

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], potent) by Charlotte Witt - Substance and Essence in Aristotle

Book Reference

Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.149


A Reaction

[See Witt 145-9 for the aporia] A vital piece in the jigsaw I am assembling. I connect this way of thinking with modern modal thinking, and actual and possible worlds. It obviously results in individual essences taking priority.