Return to Porphyry, Introduction
1. To Species and Accident also it is common, to be predicated of many things. But other common properties are rare, because Accident, and that to which it happens, very much differ from each other.
2. The peculiarities however of each are these: of Species indeed, to be predicated of the things of which it is the Species, in answer to the question what a thing is; but of Accident to be predicated, in answer to the question “What kind of a thing is this?”, or “How does this subsist?”.
3. Likewise that every Essence or substance participates of one Species, but of many Accidents, both separable and inseparable.
4. And Species indeed are conceived prior to Accidents, though they should be inseparable Accidents; (for it is necessary that there should be a subject, in order that something may happen to it) but Accidents are naturally adapted to be of posterior origin, and have a nature which consists in being an adjunct to Essence.
5. And of Species indeed the participation is equal; but of Accident, though it should be inseparable it is not equal. For an Ethiopian may have a colour which has intension or remission according to blackness with reference to another Ethiopian.
Return to Porphyry, Introduction
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