Does Aristotle’s Differentia Presuppose the Genus It Differentiates?

There seems to be an inconsistency at the heart of Aristotle’s Metaphysics: a differentia is said both to presuppose its genus (in vii 12) and to be logically independent from it (in x 7). I argue that the relation of analogy resolves this inconsistency, restores the coherence of the concepts of differentia and species, and gives x 7 its rightful place in the development of the Metaphysics.

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Publication Details

Journal
Ancient Philosophy
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5840/ancientphil202545229
Primary Topic
Classical Philosophy and Thought
Type
article
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article

Does Aristotle’s Differentia Presuppose the Genus It Differentiates?

Nicolas Zaks
Ancient Philosophy
Classical Philosophy and Thought
article

Does Aristotle’s Differentia Presuppose the Genus It Differentiates?

Nicolas Zaks
article en

Abstract

There seems to be an inconsistency at the heart of Aristotle’s Metaphysics: a differentia is said both to presuppose its genus (in vii 12) and to be logically independent from it (in x 7). I argue that the relation of analogy resolves this inconsistency, restores the coherence of the concepts of differentia and species, and gives x 7 its rightful place in the development of the Metaphysics.

Ancient PhilosophyVol. 45(2)
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Classical Philosophy and Thought
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Does Aristotle’s Differentia Presuppose the Genus It Differentiates? — Nicolas Zaks · Ancient Philosophy (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS