Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Metaphysics', 'Speaking of Objects' and 'Prologue to Ordinatio'

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2 ideas

7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 4. Ontological Dependence

11154	Prior things can exist without posterior things, but not vice versa [Aristotle]
	Full Idea: Prior things can have being without posterior things, without the posterior being able to have being without the prior, to adopt Plato's distinction.
	From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1019a04)
	A reaction: Fine quotes this, in expounding Aristotle's account of essence.

7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 7. Abstract/Concrete / a. Abstract/concrete

1630	We can only see an alien language in terms of our own thought structures (e.g. physical/abstract) [Quine]
	Full Idea: We are prone to talk about physical and abstract objects. It is hard to know how else to talk, because we are bound to adapt any alien pattern to our own in the very process of understanding or translating the alien sentences.
	From: Willard Quine (Speaking of Objects [1960], pt.I,p.1)