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Single Idea 13272

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / b. Unifying aggregates ]

Full Idea

In general those things that do not admit of division [diairesis] are one insofar as they do not admit of it.

Gist of Idea

Things are one to the extent that they are indivisible

Source

Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1016b03)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.123


A Reaction

Aristotle gives a man, an animal and a magnitude as examples. The interesting thing here is that being 'one' seems to come in degrees, where most metaphysicians long for oneness to be an absolute.