Single Idea 568

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 2. Types of Existence]

Full Idea

Some things are called things that are because they are substances, other things are called things that are because they are affections of a substance.

Gist of Idea

Some things exist as substances, others as properties of substances

Source

Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1003b07)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.81


A Reaction

Plato would be happy to call the 'affections' things that are, but Aristotle should be less confident. Later nominalists say there are just the substances.