Return to Porphyry, Introduction
1. With respect to Peculiarity, they give it a fourfold division.
2. For Peculiarity is that which is an Accident to a certain Species alone, though not to every individual of that Species. Thus, it happens to a man to heal, or to geometrize.
3. It is also that which is an Accident to the whole of a Species, though not to that Species alone. Thus, it happens to man to be a biped.
4. It is likewise that which is an Accident to a certain Species alone, and to every individual of that Species, and at a certain time. Thus, it happens to every man to have grey hairs in old age.
5. And in the fourth place, it is that in which what is Accidental to one Species alone, to every individual of that Species, and always, concur; as risibility to man. For though he does not always laugh, yet he is said to be risible, not from laughing always, but from being naturally adapted to laugh. And this Peculiarity is always connascent with him, in the same manner as an aptitude to neighing is connascent with a horse.
6. They say also, that these are properly peculiarities, because they reciprocate. For if any thing is a horse, it has an aptitude to neighing; and if any thing has an aptitude to neighing, it is a horse.
Return to Porphyry, Introduction
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