Return to Porphyry, Introduction
1. It now remains to speak concerning Peculiarity and Accident for we have already said in what respect Peculiarity differs from Species, Difference and Genus.
2. It is common therefore to Peculiarity and inseparable Accident, not to subsist without those things in which they are beheld. For as man does not subsist without risibility, so neither can an Ethiopian subsist without blackness.
3. And as Peculiarity is present to every individual of a Species and always, thus, also inseparable Accident.
4. They differ however, because Peculiarity is present to one Species only, as risibility to man; but inseparable Accident, as blackness, is not only present to an Ethiopian, but also to a crow, to a coal, to ebony, and to certain other things.
5. Again, Peculiarity is reciprocally predicated of that of which it is the Peculiarity, and is equally present; but inseparable Accident is not reciprocally predicated.
6. The participation also of peculiarities is equal, one indeed more but another less.
7. There are indeed other things which are common and peculiar to the above-mentioned five terms, but these are sufficient for the purpose of showing their distinction and agreement.
Return to Porphyry, Introduction
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