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Single Idea 17555

[from 'Quaestiones de Potentia Dei' by Thomas Aquinas, in 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / b. Unifying aggregates ]

Full Idea

There are two sorts of one. There is the one which is convertible with being, which adds nothing to being except being undivided; and this deprives of multitude. Then there is the principle of number, which to the notion of being adds measurement.

Gist of Idea

'One' can mean undivided and not a multitude, or it can add measurement, giving number

Source

Thomas Aquinas (Quaestiones de Potentia Dei [1269], q3 a16 ad 3-um)


A Reaction

[From a lecture handout] I'm not sure I understand this. We might say, I suppose, that insofar as water is water, it is all one, but you can't count it. Perhaps being 'unified' and being a 'unity' are different?