Return to Aristotle, Categories
1. Those things are said to be simultaneous, simply indeed, and most properly, of which the Generation is in the same time; for neither of these is prior or posterior. But these are said to be co-existent according to time.
2. Those things, however, are naturally simultaneous, which reciprocate, indeed, according to consequence of existence, but the one is by no means the cause of the existence of the other; as in the double and the half; for these reciprocate. Thus, the double existing, the half also is; and the half existing, the double is. But neither is the cause of existence to the other.
3. Those things also, which being derived from the same Genus have a division opposite to each other, are said to be naturally simultaneous. But those things are said to have a division opposite to each other, which subsist according to the same division. Thus, the winged is opposed to the pedestrious and the aquatic. For these being derived from the same Genus have division opposite to each other. For animal is divided into these, viz. into the winged, the pedestrious, and the aquatic; and no one of these is prior or posterior, but things of this kind appear to be naturally simultaneous. Each of these, however, may again be divided into Species; as, for instance, the winged, the pedestrious, and the aquatic. Those things, therefore, will be naturally simultaneous, which being derived from the same Genus, subsist according to the same division.
4. But Genera are always prior to Species; for they do not reciprocate according to the consequence of existence. Thus, the aquatic existing, animal is; but animal existing, it is not necessary that the aquatic should exist.
5. Hence those things are said to be naturally simultaneous, which reciprocate, indeed, according to the consequence of existence, but the one is by no means the cause of existence to the other; and this is also the case with those things which being derived from the same Genus, have a division opposed to each other. Those things, however, are simply simultaneous, of which the Generation is in the same time.
Return to Aristotle, Categories
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