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Single Idea 12352

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 2. Reason / D. Definition / 5. Genus and Differentia ]

Full Idea

If Callias is a white man, then whiteness belongs in a way to Callias, or to man, in as much as Callias, to whom it is accidental here to be a man, is white.

Gist of Idea

Whiteness can only belong to man because an individual like Callias happens to be white

Source

Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1030b20)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.183


A Reaction

The point here is that 'white' can only belong to 'man' because some individual man happens to be white.