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Division Is The First Section of The Thing. Thus, For
Division Is The First Section of The Thing. Thus, For
then man will necessarily not exist either, because man Now, the description is made up of non-essential
is an animal. But, when man is taken away and does elements, that is to say, of properties and accidents. For
not exist, there can still be an animal —for there would example, man is an animal which is able to laugh,
be the horse and the dog and such, which are certain walks erect, and has broad nails. These elements are
kinds of animals. Again, when man is postulated, then non-essential. For this reason it is called description,
animal is most certainly implied with him, because since it outlines, bringing out not the essential
man is an animal. But, when the animal is postulated, substance but only the things consequential to it. The
man is not necessarily implied, because, on the descriptive definition is a combination of essentials
contrary, it might be a horse, or a dog, or something of and non-essentials, as, for example: Man is rational
the sort, for these are animals, too. Therefore, Peter is animal walking erect and having broad nails.
not by nature prior to Paul, nor is the rational animal Definition is the term for the setting of land boundaries
prior to the irrational. For, when Peter is taken away so taken in a metaphorical sense. For, just as the boundary
as not to exist, there will still be Paul. Likewise, when separates that which belongs to one from that which
Paul is postulated, Peter is not implied with him; nor, belongs to another, so does the definition set off the
when Peter is postulated, will Paul be implied. And nature of one thing from that of any other.
neither is Peter more, that is to say, more a man or
more an animal than Paul, nor is Paul more so than Now, the soundness of a definition lies in its
Peter. However, a drug may be found which is more having neither too few nor too many terms, while its
healthful than another drug, and a book which is more vice lies in its having either too few or too many terms.
medical than some other book. A perfect definition is one which is convertible with
the thing defined, while an imperfect one is one which
CHAPTER VIII is not. Neither is that which has too few terms
convertible (nor that which has too many), for, when it
has too many terms, it covers too few things, whereas,
A definition is a concise statement setting forth
when it has too few terms, it covers too many things.
the nature of the thing in question, that is to say, such
(And so one may say that nature has discovered a
expresses in brief the nature of the thing in question.
wonderful device poverty that is wealthy and wealth
For example, man is a rational mortal animal capable
feigning poverty.) For example, the perfect definition
of intelligence and knowledge. Now, many men have
of man is: Man is rational mortal animal. Notice how
discoursed at length on the nature of man, that is, they
this is convertible, for every rational mortal animal is a
have written long and extensive treatises on the
man and every man is a rational mortal animal. Now, if
subject. But these are not concise and, therefore, are
one term were to be left out, the definition would cover
not definitions. There are also concise statements, such
too many things. Take it, for example, as ‘rational
as apophthegms, but, since they do not set forth the
animal.’ Here there are too few terms, because I did not
nature of a thing, they are not definitions. A name, too,
say ‘mortal.’ And it covers too many things, because
oftentimes indicates the nature of the thing in question,
man is not the only rational animal; the angel is one,
but it is not a definition. For the name is one word,
too. Therefore, it is not convertible. If, on the other
while the definition is a statement, and a statement is
hand, I should say ‘a rational, mortal, literate animal,’
made up of at least two words. (Therefore, the
again it is not convertible. For by my saying ‘literate’ it
definition is a name explained, whereas a name is a
has received too many terms, while it covers too few
term of a proposition, when it is in conjunction.)
things. This is because it has not defined every man,
but only those men who are literate. Thus, every
The definition is made up of genus and
rational, mortal, and literate animal is a man, but not
constituent, that is to say, essential differences. Thus it
every man is a rational, mortal, and literate animal,
is with the definition of animal, for animal is an
because not every man is literate.
animate sentient substance. Here the genus is
substance, while the constituent differences are the
Therefore, those definitions are perfect which are
being animate and sentient. The definition may also be
convertible with the thing defined. Since, however, a
taken from matter and form, as, for example: A statue
property is also convertible with the thing of which it is
is that which is made of bronze and represents the form
a property— for, if anything is a man, it will be
of a man. In this case the bronze is the matter, while
capable of laughter; and if anything is capable of
the representation of the shape of the man is the form
laughter, it will be a man— then we must make an
of the statue. The matter corresponds to the genus and
additional specification and say that perfect definitions
the form to the specific difference. The definition may
are those which are taken from genus and constituent
also be taken from subject and purpose. Medicine, for
differences, which are neither deficient nor excessive
example, is concerned with human bodies and is
in terms, and which are convertible with the thing
productive of health. Here the subject of medicine is
defined, In the same way, those are perfect which are
the human body, whereas its purpose is health.
taken from the pairs of subject and purpose and of