Глава VII. О предшествующем по природе

What is called prior by nature is that which is posited together with another, but does not posit it, which, together with itself, eliminates the other, but is not eliminated along with it. For example, an animal by nature precedes man, for since the animal is eliminated and does not exist, then man will necessarily not exist, since man is an animal. If man is destroyed and does not exist, the existence of an animal is possible, for a horse, a dog and similar creatures that are animals will exist. On the other hand, if a person is posited, then the animal is certainly posited, for man is an animal. If an animal is relied upon, then a person is not necessarily relied upon, but a horse, a dog, or anything similar can be relied upon, for they too are animals. Therefore, Peter does not by nature precede Paul, or a rational animal precede the irrational one, for when Peter is removed and does not exist, Paul will exist, and when Paul is posited, Peter is not posited together, just as when Peter is posited, Paul is not posited together. In the same way, Peter is no more, i.e. is no more fully human or animal than Paul, any more than Paul is more fully human than Peter. But one medicine is more effective than another, and one medical book is more useful than another. You might be interested in: