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Single Idea 18367

[from 'Categories' by Aristotle, in 3. Truth / B. Truthmakers / 5. What Makes Truths / b. Objects make truths ]

Full Idea

Whereas the true statement [that there is a man] is in no way the cause of the actual thing's existence, the actual thing does seem in some way the cause of the statement's being true.

Gist of Idea

A true existence statement has its truth caused by the existence of the thing

Source

Aristotle (Categories [c.331 BCE], 14b18)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Categories and De Interpretatione', ed/tr. Ackrill,J.R. [OUP 1963], p.40


A Reaction

Armstrong offers this as the earliest statement of the truthmaker principle. Notice the cautious qualification 'seem in some way'. The truthmaker dependence seems even clearer in falsemaking, where the death of the man falsifies the statement.

Related Idea

Idea 18366 Of interdependent things, the prior one causes the other's existence [Aristotle]