Al-Fârâbî, The Eisagōgē
• Proposition: either categorical or conditional ○ Categorical: a predicate and a subject
§ Predicate and subject: either a term indicating a meaning (ma’na) or a meaning that a given term indicates
□ Meaning that a given term indicates: either universal or individual
○ Conditional: two categorical propositions connected by a conditional particle
• Highest genus and final species
• The genus is the more general and the species the more specific of any
two universals that serve as a proper response to the question, “What
is this individual?”
• The simple universal by means of which one distinguishes the
substance of one species from another that shares its proximate genus is the difference.
○ The question of “What kind?”
• When he knows its highest genus, he should divide it by the
differences that constitute the species most proximate to it, and he should continue to do that in that sequence until he arrives at the species
• The property is the simple universal belonging to a particular species alone, to all of it and always, but without indicating its very being or substance.
• The accident is a simple universal belonging to a genus or a species, whether it be more general or more specific, but it does not indicate the very being or substance in any.
• Accident: permanent or separable
Al-Farabi describes how can we define things and beings by use of syllogism. He explains what universals and individuals are and exemplifies genus and species. We need two components at least to define universals. He also interprets the other universal meanings, that are, property, accident, difference other than genus and species.
Keywords: proposition, genus, species, universals, individuals, difference, substance, accident, general, specific, definition, things, beings, explanation, ma'na
• Proposition: either categorical or conditional ○ Categorical: a predicate and a subject
§ Predicate and subject: either a term indicating a meaning (ma’na) or a meaning that a given term indicates
□ Meaning that a given term indicates: either universal or individual
○ Conditional: two categorical propositions connected by a conditional particle
• Highest genus and final species
• The genus is the more general and the species the more specific of any
two universals that serve as a proper response to the question, “What
is this individual?”
• The simple universal by means of which one distinguishes the
substance of one species from another that shares its proximate genus is the difference.
○ The question of “What kind?”
• When he knows its highest genus, he should divide it by the
differences that constitute the species most proximate to it, and he should continue to do that in that sequence until he arrives at the species
• The property is the simple universal belonging to a particular species alone, to all of it and always, but without indicating its very being or substance.
• The accident is a simple universal belonging to a genus or a species, whether it be more general or more specific, but it does not indicate the very being or substance in any.
• Accident: permanent or separable
Al-Farabi describes how can we define things and beings by use of syllogism. He explains what universals and individuals are and exemplifies genus and species. We need two components at least to define universals. He also interprets the other universal meanings, that are, property, accident, difference other than genus and species.
Keywords: proposition, genus, species, universals, individuals, difference, substance, accident, general, specific, definition, things, beings, explanation, ma'na