back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 7686

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties ]

Full Idea

In Aristotle's metaphysics of substance, there are only as many properties as actually inhere in existent spatiotemporal particulars.

Gist of Idea

For Aristotle, there are only as many properties as actually exist

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], props) by Dale Jacquette - Ontology Ch.2

Book Reference

Jacquette,Dale: 'Ontology' [Acumen 2002], p.60


A Reaction

This would mean, oddly, that squareness ceased to be a property if the last square thing vanished. But then how do we establish the existence of unrealised properties? Is 'bigger than the biggest existent object' a property?