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posterior analytics-第20部分

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not further divisible…i。e。 that as soon as we have taken the last



differentia to form the concrete totality; this totality admits of



no division into species。 For it is clear that there is no superfluous



addition; since all these terms we have selected are elements in the



definable form; and nothing lacking; since any omission would have



to be a genus or a differentia。 Now the primary term is a genus; and



this term taken in conjunction with its differentiae is a genus:



moreover the differentiae are all included; because there is now no



further differentia; if there were; the final concrete would admit



of division into species; which; we said; is not the case。



  To resume our account of the right method of investigation: We



must start by observing a set of similar…i。e。 specifically



identical…individuals; and consider what element they have in



common。 We must then apply the same process to another set of



individuals which belong to one species and are generically but not



specifically identical with the former set。 When we have established



what the common element is in all members of this second species;



and likewise in members of further species; we should again consider



whether the results established possess any identity; and persevere



until we reach a single formula; since this will be the definition



of the thing。 But if we reach not one formula but two or more;



evidently the definiendum cannot be one thing but must be more than



one。 I may illustrate my meaning as follows。 If we were inquiring what



the essential nature of pride is; we should examine instances of proud



men we know of to see what; as such; they have in common; e。g。 if



Alcibiades was proud; or Achilles and Ajax were proud; we should



find on inquiring what they all had in common; that it was intolerance



of insult; it was this which drove Alcibiades to war; Achilles



wrath; and Ajax to suicide。 We should next examine other cases;



Lysander; for example; or Socrates; and then if these have in common



indifference alike to good and ill fortune; I take these two results



and inquire what common element have equanimity amid the



vicissitudes of life and impatience of dishonour。 If they have none;



there will be two genera of pride。 Besides; every definition is always



universal and commensurate: the physician does not prescribe what is



healthy for a single eye; but for all eyes or for a determinate



species of eye。 It is also easier by this method to define the



single species than the universal; and that is why our procedure



should be from the several species to the universal genera…this for



the further reason too that equivocation is less readily detected in



genera than in infimae species。 Indeed; perspicuity is essential in



definitions; just as inferential movement is the minimum required in



demonstrations; and we shall attain perspicuity if we can collect



separately the definition of each species through the group of



singulars which we have established e。g。 the definition of



similarity not unqualified but restricted to colours and to figures;



the definition of acuteness; but only of sound…and so proceed to the



common universal with a careful avoidance of equivocation。 We may



add that if dialectical disputation must not employ metaphors; clearly



metaphors and metaphorical expressions are precluded in definition:



otherwise dialectic would involve metaphors。







                                14







  In order to formulate the connexions we wish to prove we have to



select our analyses and divisions。 The method of selection consists in



laying down the common genus of all our subjects of investigation…if



e。g。 they are animals; we lay down what the properties are which



inhere in every animal。 These established; we next lay down the



properties essentially connected with the first of the remaining



classes…e。g。 if this first subgenus is bird; the essential



properties of every bird…and so on; always characterizing the



proximate subgenus。 This will clearly at once enable us to say in



virtue of what character the subgenera…man; e。g。 or horse…possess



their properties。 Let A be animal; B the properties of every animal; C



D E various species of animal。 Then it is clear in virtue of what



character B inheres in D…namely A…and that it inheres in C and E for



the same reason: and throughout the remaining subgenera always the



same rule applies。



  We are now taking our examples from the traditional class…names; but



we must not confine ourselves to considering these。 We must collect



any other common character which we observe; and then consider with



what species it is connected and what。properties belong to it。 For



example; as the common properties of horned animals we collect the



possession of a third stomach and only one row of teeth。 Then since it



is clear in virtue of what character they possess these



attributes…namely their horned character…the next question is; to what



species does the possession of horns attach?



  Yet a further method of selection is by analogy: for we cannot



find a single identical name to give to a squid's pounce; a fish's



spine; and an animal's bone; although these too possess common



properties as if there were a single osseous nature。







                                15







  Some connexions that require proof are identical in that they



possess an identical 'middle' e。g。 a whole group might be proved



through 'reciprocal replacement'…and of these one class are



identical in genus; namely all those whose difference consists in



their concerning different subjects or in their mode of manifestation。



This latter class may be exemplified by the questions as to the causes



respectively of echo; of reflection; and of the rainbow: the



connexions to be proved which these questions embody are identical



generically; because all three are forms of repercussion; but



specifically they are different。



  Other connexions that require proof only differ in that the 'middle'



of the one is subordinate to the 'middle' of the other。 For example:



Why does the Nile rise towards the end of the month? Because towards



its close the month is more stormy。 Why is the month more stormy



towards its close? Because the moon is waning。 Here the one cause is



subordinate to the other。







                                16







  The question might be raised with regard to cause and effect whether



when the effect is present the cause also is present; whether; for



instance; if a plant sheds its leaves or the moon is eclipsed; there



is present also the cause of the eclipse or of the fall of the



leaves…the possession of broad leaves; let us say; in the latter case;



in the former the earth's interposition。 For; one might argue; if this



cause is not present; these phenomena will have some other cause: if



it is present; its effect will be at once implied by it…the eclipse by



the earth's interposition; the fall of the leaves by the possession of



broad leaves; but if so; they will be logically coincident and each



capable of proof through the other。 Let me illustrate: Let A be



deciduous character; B the possession of broad leaves; C vine。 Now



if A inheres in B (for every broad…leaved plant is deciduous); and B



in C (every vine possessing broad leaves); then A inheres in C



(every vine is deciduous); and the middle term B is the cause。 But



we can also demonstrate that the vine has broad leaves because it is



deciduous。 Thus; let D be broad…leaved; E deciduous; F vine。 Then E



inheres in F (since every vine is deciduous); and D in E (for every



deciduous plant has broad leaves): therefore every vine has broad



leaves; and the cause is its deciduous character。 If; however; they



cannot each be the cause of the other (for cause is prior to effect;



and the earth's interposition is the cause of the moon's eclipse and



not the eclipse of the interposition)…if; then; demonstration



through the cause is of the reasoned fact and demonstration not



through the cause is of the bare fact; one who knows it through the



eclipse knows the fact of the earth's interposition but not the



reasoned fact。 Moreover; that the eclipse is not the cause of the



interposition; but the interposition of the eclipse; is obvious



because the interposition is an element in the definition of



eclipse; which shows that the eclipse is known through the



interposition and not vice versa。



  On the other hand; can a single effect have more than one cause? One



might argue as follows: if the same attribute is predicable of more



than one thing as its primary subject; let B be a primary subject in



which A inheres; and C another primary subject of A; and D and E



primary subjects of B and C respectively。 A will then inhere in D



and E; and B will be the cause of A's inherence in D; C of A's



inherence in E。 The presence of the cause thus necessitates that of



the effect; but the presence of the effect necessitates the presence



not of all that may cause it but only of a cause which yet need not be



the whole cause。 We may; however; suggest that if the connexion to



be proved is always universal and commensurate; not only will the



cause be a whole but also the effect will be universal and



commensurate。 For instance; deciduous character will belong



exclusively to a subject which is a whole; and; if this whole has



species; universally and commensurately to those species…i。e。 either


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