Return to Porphyry, Introduction
1. With reference to Species however, we have before shown in what respect it differs from Genus and Difference, when we explained in what respect Genus, and also in what respect Difference, differs from the rest. It now remains that we should show in what respect Species differs from Peculiarity and Accident.
2. It is common therefore to Species and Peculiarity to be reciprocally predicated of each other. For if any thing is a man it is risible; and if any thing is risible, it is a man. It has however been frequently asserted by us that risibility must be assumed according to a natural aptitude to laughter.
3. It is also common to Species and Peculiarity to be equally present. For Species are equally present to their participants; and peculiarities to the things of which they are peculiarities.
4. But Species differs from Peculiarity in this, that Species indeed may be the Genus of other things; but Peculiarity can never be the Peculiarity of other things.
5. And Species indeed subsists prior to Peculiarity; but Peculiarity accedes to Species. For the existence of man is necessary to the existence of risibility.
6. Again, Species indeed, is always present in energy with its subject; but Peculiarity is sometimes present in capacity. For Socrates is always Socrates in energy, but he does not always laugh, though he is always naturally adapted to be risible.
7. Farther still, those things of which the definitions are different, are also themselves different; but the definition of Species is, to be under Genus, to be predicated of many things, and which differ in number, in answer to the question what a thing is, and things of this kind. The definition however of Peculiarity is to be present to a thing alone, to every individual of a Species, and always.
Return to Porphyry, Introduction
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