e. no
demonstrative syllogism-of essential nature, yet it is through
syllogism, viz. demonstrative syllogism, that essential nature is
exhibited. So we conclude that neither can the essential nature of
anything which has a cause distinct from itself be known without
demonstration, nor can it be demonstrated; and this is what we
contended in our preliminary discussions.
9
Now while some things have a cause distinct from themselves,
others have not. Hence it is evident that there are essential
natures which are immediate, that is are basic premisses; and of these
not only that they are but also what they are must be assumed or
revealed in some other way. This too is the actual procedure of the
arithmetician, who assumes both the nature and the existence of
unit. On the other hand, it is possible (in the manner explained) to
exhibit through demonstration the essential nature of things which
have a 'middle', i.e. a cause of their substantial being other than
that being itself; but we do not thereby demonstrate it.
10
Since definition is said to be the statement of a thing's nature,
obviously one kind of definition will be a statement of the meaning of
the name, or of an equivalent nominal formula.
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