Aristotle - index for METAPHYSICA Book 5 Part 18

In virtue of

Paragraph 1 'That in virtue of which' has several meanings:

Paragraph 2 (1) the form or substance of each thing, e.g. that in virtue of which a man is good is the good itself,

Paragraph 3 (2) the proximate subject in which it is the nature of an attribute to be found, e.g. colour in a surface.

Paragraph 4 for we say indifferently (3) 'in virtue of what has he come?'

Paragraph 5 and (4) 'in virtue of what has he inferred wrongly, or inferred?'

Paragraph 6 Further (5) 'in virtue of' is used in reference to position, e.g. 'at which he stands' or 'along which he walks';

Paragraph 7 Therefore 'in virtue of itself' must likewise have several meanings.

Paragraph 8 (1) the essence of each thing, e.g. Callias is in virtue of himself Callias and what it was to be Callias;

Paragraph 9 (2) whatever is present in the 'what', e.g. Callias is in virtue of himself an animal.

Paragraph 10 (3) Whatever attribute a thing receives in itself directly or in one of its parts;

Paragraph 11 (4) That which has no cause other than itself;

Paragraph 12 (5) Whatever attributes belong to a thing alone, and in so far as they belong to it merely by virtue of itself considered apart by itself.

HTML by

created 1996/11/25 modified 2009/04/26


Paragraph 1	'That in virtue of which' has several meanings:
Paragraph 2	(1) the form or substance of each thing, e.g. that in virtue of which a man is good is the good itself,
Paragraph 3	(2) the proximate subject in which it is the nature of an attribute to be found, e.g. colour in a surface.
Paragraph 4	for we say indifferently (3) 'in virtue of what has he come?'
Paragraph 5	and (4) 'in virtue of what has he inferred wrongly, or inferred?'
Paragraph 6	Further (5) 'in virtue of' is used in reference to position, e.g. 'at which he stands' or 'along which he walks';
Paragraph 7	Therefore 'in virtue of itself' must likewise have several meanings.
Paragraph 8	(1) the essence of each thing, e.g. Callias is in virtue of himself Callias and what it was to be Callias;
Paragraph 9	(2) whatever is present in the 'what', e.g. Callias is in virtue of himself an animal.
Paragraph 10	(3) Whatever attribute a thing receives in itself directly or in one of its parts;
Paragraph 11	(4) That which has no cause other than itself;
Paragraph 12	(5) Whatever attributes belong to a thing alone, and in so far as they belong to it merely by virtue of itself considered apart by itself.