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Single Idea 12382

[from 'Posterior Analytics' by Aristotle, in 2. Reason / D. Definition / 6. Definition by Essence ]

Full Idea

What it is and why it is are the same. What is an eclipse? Privation of light from the moon by screening of the earth. Why is there an eclipse? ...What is a harmony? A numerical ratio between high and low. Why do the high and low harmonize? The ratio.

Gist of Idea

What it is and why it is are the same; screening defines and explains an eclipse

Source

Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 90a15)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.49


A Reaction

This is right at the heart of Aristotelian essentialism, and (I take it) modern scientific essentialism. If you fully know what cigarette tars are, and what human cell structure is, you understand immediately why cigarettes cause cancer.