登陆注册
5194900000004

第4章

We can see how this happens by considering how body as a part of animal differs from body as the genus of animal. In the way body is the genus of animal it cannot be an integral part of animal, and thus the term body can be accepted in several ways. Body is said to be in the genus of substance in that it has a nature such that three dimensions can be designated in the body. These three designated dimensions are the body that is in the genus of quantity. Now, it sometimes happens that what has one perfection may attain to a further perfection as well, as is clear in man, who has a sensitive nature and, further, an intellective one. Similarly, above this perfection of having a form such that three dimensions can be designated in it, there can be joined another perfection, as life or some similar thing. This term body, therefore, can signify a certain thing that has a form such that from the form there follows in the thing designatability in three dimensions and nothing more, such that, in other words, from this form no further perfection follows, but if some other thing is superadded, it is beyond the signification of body thus understood. And understood in this way, body will be an integral and material part of the animal, because in this way the soul will be beyond what is signified by the term body, and it will supervene on the body such that from these two, namely the soul and the body, the animal is constituted as from parts.

This term body can also be understood as signifying a certain thing that has a form such that three dimensions can be designated in it, whatever form this may be, and such that either from the form some further perfection can proceed or not. Understood in this way, body will be the genus of animal, for there will be understood in animal nothing that is not implicitly contained in body. Now, the soul is a form through which there can be designated in the thing three dimensions, and therefore, when we say that body is what has a form from which three dimensions can be designated in the body, we understand there is some kind of form of this type, whether soul, or lapideousness, or whatever other form. And thus the form of animal is implicitly contained in the form of body, just as body is its genus.

The relation of animal to man is the same. For if animal named just a certain thing that has a perfection such that it can sense and move by a principle existing in itself, without any other perfection, then whatever further perfection may supervene would be related to animal as a component part, and not as implicitly contained in the notion of animal; and in this way animal would not be a genus. But animal is a genus in that it signifies a certain thing from the form of which sensation and motion can proceed, whatever this form may be, whether a sensible soul only, or a soul both sensible and rational.

Therefore, the genus signifies indeterminately the whole that is in the species and does not signify matter alone. Similarly, the difference also signifies the whole and does not signify the form alone, and the definition, or even the species, signifies the whole. But these nevertheless signify the same thing in different ways. For the genus signifies the whole as a certain denomination determining that which is material in the thing without a determination of its proper form, whence the genus is taken from the matter, although it is not the matter. This is clear in the case of bodies, as we call something a body in that the thing has a perfection such that in the thing three dimensions can be designated, and this perfection is related materially to some further perfection. Conversely, the difference is like a certain denomination taken from the determined form, beyond the first conception of the form by which the matter is determined. So, when we say something is animated (that, in other words, it has a soul), this does not determine what the thing is, whether it is a body or some other thing. Hence, Avicenna says, Metaphysicae V, cap. 6, that the genus is not understood in the difference as a part of its essence but only as a being beyond its essence, even as a subject is with respect to the concept of a passion. And thus the genus is not predicated per se of the difference, as the Philosopher says in III Metaphysicae cap. 8 (998b24) and in IV Topicorum cap. 2 (122b22-26), unless perhaps as a subject is predicated of a passion. But the definition or the species comprehends both, namely, the determined matter that the term genus designates and the determined form that the term difference designates.

同类推荐
  • The Golden Bough

    The Golden Bough

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上导引三光宝真妙经

    太上导引三光宝真妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 暮春陪李尚书、李中

    暮春陪李尚书、李中

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 友古词

    友古词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说决定总持经

    佛说决定总持经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 单恋不转弯

    单恋不转弯

    叶红旗为人极度一根筋,认定的事物很少有改变。好友有宝认识她的时候,她正爱吃学校食堂的三明治,因为里面的火腿肉很好吃,她就固执地吃了大学四年。
  • 赠我深爱如长风

    赠我深爱如长风

    早起,她淡淡开口:“不用担心,我已经做过措施了,不会留下后顾之忧。”“吃过药,就不要浪费药效了,”他嘴唇微勾,“不用担心会惹出麻烦。是吧?我-亲-爱-的-老-婆。”结婚三年,顾青青的目标有三:和冷斯城离婚,和冷斯城离婚,和冷斯城离婚。冷斯城的目标有三:和顾青青生孩子,和顾青青生孩子,和顾青青生很多很多很多的孩子。直到有一天……
  • 故人故事

    故人故事

    记得是上小学六年级的时候吧,上面提倡跟苏联小朋友交朋友,其实就是给苏联小朋友写信,信中还可附上照片呀,邮票呀,自己画的画、做的书签、绣的手帕呀什么的,通过我国的“中苏友好协会”,邮给苏联的“苏中友好协会”,再转给某个苏联小朋友。对方回信也是由两国的友好协会代转。这样就建立起了跨国互相通信的“国际朋友”关系了。这其中邮信的过程,那是许多年后才知道的。那时候尊苏联为“老大哥”,口口声声讲向苏联老大哥学习,口口声声讲苏联的今天就是我们的明天。
  • 狼宠

    狼宠

    初见,他是她在雪地里捡的奴隶,惊才绝艳。离散后重遇,他已是摄政王,而她是在逃女犯。心已深陷,忽而发现他的惊天秘密。一场情殇,江山几易其主。她只想无争过此一世,却偏偏,逢此,大争之世!
  • 日本国考略

    日本国考略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 南北朝杂记

    南北朝杂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 旭乱三国

    旭乱三国

    汉末之时,群雄并起。刘旭,一个来自二十一世纪的灵魂穿越者,且看他是如何在这乱世之中,与群星争辉,延续我汉家的辉煌!(开了一本新书:三国之白波风云)
  • 桐花阁词钞

    桐花阁词钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 杰出男子汉青春讲义

    杰出男子汉青春讲义

    男子汉们,也许你正在独自面临这个社会中的种种挑战,也许你正在面临人生重大的选择,也许你正苦于找不到未来的发展方向……这12堂人生必修课让你体会到希望、自信、快乐和坚强……增长才干,找回曾失去的自信,告别平庸,告别人生的茫然。
  • 有个天使叫平安

    有个天使叫平安

    宠物和你的戳心小事