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Single Idea 16647

[from 'De Anima' by Aristotle, in 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 2. Demonstration ]

Full Idea

In demonstration a definition of the essence is required as starting point, so that definitions which do not enable us to discover the derived properties, or which fail to facilitate even a conjecture about them, must obviously be dialectical and futile.

Gist of Idea

Demonstration starts from a definition of essence, so we can derive (or conjecture about) the properties

Source

Aristotle (De Anima [c.329 BCE], 402b25)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'The Basic Works of Aristotle', ed/tr. McKeon,Richard [Modern Library Classics 2001], p.536


A Reaction

Interesting to see 'dialectical' used as a term of abuse! Illuminating. For scientific essentialism, then, demonstration is filling out the whole story once the essence has been inferred. It is circular, because essence is inferred from accidents.