Глава XIV. О свойстве

The property is used in four senses. Firstly, a property is something that belongs only to one species, but not to all, such as, for example, a person being a geometer. Only one person is a geometer, but not every person is a geometer. Secondly, that which belongs to the whole species, but not to it alone, such as two legs. Every person has two legs, but more than one person has two legs, and so does the dove and the like. Thirdly, something that belongs to the whole species and to this one species, but not always, like, for example, gray hair – to a person. Every person and only one person can have gray hair, but not always, but only in old age. Fourthly, what happens when the first three cases coincide, i.e. when something belongs to the whole species, to that one species and is always capable of circulation. So, for example, the ability to laugh belongs to humans, the ability to neigh belongs to horses, and the like. Only man has the ability to laugh, and every man always does, although he does not always use it. [And if any creature is a person, then it is certainly capable of laughing, and if it is capable of laughing, then it is certainly a person, this is what conversion consists of. Philosophers understand property in this latter sense]. Defining it, we say: a property is something that belongs to the entire species, to this one species, and always. But properties are of three kinds: some are borrowed from the method of organization [i.e. from the shapes of the members of the body], for example: flat nails [as well as an upright gait] - in humans. Others are borrowed from the ability, for example, of fire to rush upward; still others are borrowed from power: for example, we say that fire has a warming power that is superior to the heat of other bodies. A property is called inessential (επουσιωδες) or accompanying essence (επεισουσιωδες). You might be interested in: