[lit-ideas] Re: Ideengeschichte: Literature as Grammar

In a message dated 5/27/2009 10:07:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
rpaul@xxxxxxxx writes:
JL attributes to Aristotle the following philosophical  potsherd.
> "It's  idion of man to be capable of grammar"
I will  take JL's word for this. What I'd like to know, however, is,
first of all,  where he said it, and after that, what it means. If
answers to the first to  are forthcoming, I would further like to know
why it is being displayed here  as on one of those patches of sunlight on
a broken column, the rest of which  is in deep shadow.
Robert Paul,
a voice in the wind

--- I read it in a googlebook

Shields, Aristotle, 2007 -- lexicon


Page 105

... it serves to start with the simple thought that x being rational
explains x being capable of grammar and not the other way around. ...

Page 319

... of human beings that they are capable of grammar, or capable of
laughter, both traits explicable by the essence of human beings, namely 
rationality. ...

Page 410
... necessarily human beings will be capable of grammar,  capable of
laughter, and so on; these latter features are jointly explained by  
rationality,
...

Page 416

Thus, for example,

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
it is idion of human beings to be capable of grammar.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In this sense, it is customary to mark its technical feature by reserving
for it ...

In the Metaphysics he uses the similar 'mousikos', (capable of  culture).

I have concluded that 'idion' is not really an important notion in
Arisotle. Part of the idion IS the essence, and part is just sumbebekos or
accident.

The idion that is part of the essence he calls 'haplos idion', proper
idion.

---- 'idion' is a vernacular term, but need not fill an important place in
the Metaphysics.

When Alan Code rephrased the Metaphysics of Aristotle, from what I see,  he
distinguished between

         essential  predication
         accidental  predication

I don't think there's serious room for 'proper' predication.

If R. Paul is looking for the actual quote it's just the re-reading of
Aristotle by Shields -- but similar examples would be found in the Metaphysics,
 one would hope.

Cheers,

JL Speranza
    Buenos Aires, Argentina
**************We found the real ‘Hotel California’ and the ‘Seinfeld’
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