Single Idea 563

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / c. Self-predication]

Full Idea

We say there is the form of man, horse and health, but nothing else, making the same mistake as those who say that there are gods but that they are in the form of men. They just posit eternal men, and here we are not positing forms but eternal sensibles.

Gist of Idea

If gods are like men, they are just eternal men; similarly, Forms must differ from particulars

Source

comment on Plato (works [c.375 BCE]) by Aristotle - Metaphysics 997b

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.62