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Single Idea 9069

[from 'Posterior Analytics' by Aristotle, in 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 5. Generalisation by mind ]

Full Idea

When one undifferentiated item in perception makes a stand, there is a primitive universal in the soul; for although you perceive particulars, perception is of universals - e.g. of man, not of Callias the man. One animal makes a stand, until animal does.

Gist of Idea

A perception lodging in the soul creates a primitive universal, which becomes generalised

Source

Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 100a15-)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.74


A Reaction

This is the quintessential account of abstractionism, with the claim that primitive universals arise directly in perception, but only in repeated perception. How the soul does it is a mystery to Aristotle, just as associations are a mystery to Hume.