Глава LIX. О предыдущем и последующем

The previous has four different meanings, and in the proper sense it is the previous in time. With precise usage, when applied to animate beings, the previous one is called older, and when applied to inanimate beings, it is called more ancient; if it is inaccurate, one word is used instead of another. The second type of the previous is the previous by nature, that is, that which is posited together with the other, but does not posit the other, and which both eliminates the other and is itself eliminated by it. Thus, the animal is previous in relation to man. Indeed. if there is an animal, then there will not yet be a person; for man is one of the animals. On the contrary, if there is no person, then there will be an animal, since both a horse and a dog are animals. In the same way, if there is a man, then there will certainly be an animal, for man is an animal. If there is no animal, then, undoubtedly, there will be no man, just as there will be no horse, dog, etc., since they are also animals. [This should be said about the second type.] The third type of the previous one is the previous one from the side of order. Thus, we call alpha the first, vita the second; the same applies to words and electoral votes. The fourth type of the previous one is the previous one from the side of dignity. So, we say, first the bishop, and then the presbyter. However, some do not recognize this type of the previous one, since it is possible that the first in order will be the last in dignity. Finally, the fifth type of previous and subsequent is cause (αιτιον) and effect of cause (αιτιατον). Thus, Socrates precedes his own image, since he is its cause. In the same way, the father precedes the son and is greater (μειζων) than him, since the father is the author of the son, for from the father a son is born. Therefore, Blessed Gregory in this sense understands the saying of Our Lord in the Gospels: “My Father is greater than I.” Others add to these types the previous one from the point of view of thought and intention. So the wall precedes the foundation. But this type comes down to the fourth type - the previous one from the side of dignity, since what happens first in relation to thought, happens in reality later. As many different meanings as the previous one has, so many meanings do the following ones have. The previous and the following, as well as the expressions: more and less, do not belong to the number of homonyms, but to those words that originate from the same subject. You might be interested in: