Page:O. F. Owen's Organon of Aristotle Vol. 1 (1853).djvu/19

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ARISTOTLE'S ORGANON.

THE CATEGORIES.^[1]

Chap. I.—Of Homonyms,^[2] Synonyms, Paronyms.

1. What are homonyms.Things are termed homonymous, of which the name alone is common, but the definition (of substance according to the name) is different; thus "man"

↑ Categories, or Predicaments, so called because they concern things which may always be predicated, are the several classes under which all abstract ideas, and their signs, common words, may be arranged. Their classification under ten heads was introduced by Archytas and adopted by Aristotle. The reason why, in this treatise about them, Aristotle does not begin from these, but from Homonyms, &c., is that he might previously explain what was necessary to the doctrine of the Categories to prevent subsequent digression. Vide Porphyr. in Prædicam. After comparing various opinions of Alexander Aphrodisiensis, Syrianus, Simplicius, and others, it appears agreed by all, that Aristotle's intention in this treatise was, to discuss simple primary and general words, so far as they are significant of things; at the same time to instruct us in things and conceptions, so far as they are signified by words. A recollection of this digested explanation, will much assist the student in the enunciation of the plan.
↑ "Homonyms," equivocal words,—"Synonyms," univocal,—"Paronyms," derivative. We may remark here, that analogous nouns constitute only one species of equivocal: that the synonyms of Aristotle must be distinguished from the modern synonyms, which latter are defined by Boethius, "those which have many names, but one definition;" and lastly, that paronyms have been limited by the schoolmen to certain concrete adjectives, a limitation which is not warranted by Aristotle, and is expressly rejected by his Greek commentators.—Mansel's Rudiments of Logic. See also Simplicius Scholia, p. 43, b. 5. "The reason," says Syrianus, "why things polyonomous, and heteronomous, are omitted by Aristotle, is because they rather pertain to ornament of diction, than to the consideration of things; they are therefore more properly discussed in the Rhetoric and Poetics."

[1] Categories, or Predicaments, so called because they concern things which may always be predicated, are the several classes under which all abstract ideas, and their signs, common words, may be arranged. Their classification under ten heads was introduced by Archytas and adopted by Aristotle. The reason why, in this treatise about them, Aristotle does not begin from these, but from Homonyms, &c., is that he might previously explain what was necessary to the doctrine of the Categories to prevent subsequent digression. Vide Porphyr. in Prædicam. After comparing various opinions of Alexander Aphrodisiensis, Syrianus, Simplicius, and others, it appears agreed by all, that Aristotle's intention in this treatise was, to discuss simple primary and general words, so far as they are significant of things; at the same time to instruct us in things and conceptions, so far as they are signified by words. A recollection of this digested explanation, will much assist the student in the enunciation of the plan.

[2] "Homonyms," equivocal words,—"Synonyms," univocal,—"Paronyms," derivative. We may remark here, that analogous nouns constitute only one species of equivocal: that the synonyms of Aristotle must be distinguished from the modern synonyms, which latter are defined by Boethius, "those which have many names, but one definition;" and lastly, that paronyms have been limited by the schoolmen to certain concrete adjectives, a limitation which is not warranted by Aristotle, and is expressly rejected by his Greek commentators.—Mansel's Rudiments of Logic. See also Simplicius Scholia, p. 43, b. 5. "The reason," says Syrianus, "why things polyonomous, and heteronomous, are omitted by Aristotle, is because they rather pertain to ornament of diction, than to the consideration of things; they are therefore more properly discussed in the Rhetoric and Poetics."

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