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Single Idea 12311

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 3. Individual Essences ]

Full Idea

Particular perceptible substances are excluded from definition. ...An object that admits of being in a variety of states is an object of opinion, and thus incontrovertibly not of definition.

Gist of Idea

Particulars are not definable, because they fluctuate

Source

Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1039b30)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.223


A Reaction

This more or less demolishes my original reading of Aristotle, so back to the drawing board. We need to revise Aristotle. He says differentiae home in the individual but never get there. I (now) say cross-referencing of universals gets you there.