Page:O. F. Owen's Organon of Aristotle Vol. 2 (1853).djvu/131

 finition of body as having three dimensions, or if any one should define man to be that which is cognizant of number. For it has not been stated what that is which has three dimensions, or what it is which is cognizant of number; but genus would signify what a thing is, and is the first thing supposed, of those predicated in the definition.

Besides, if when the thing defined belongs to many things, it is not adapted to all, as it some one should define grammar to be the science of writing what is dictated; for (the words) and of reading also, are wanting, since he has no more defined grammar, who defines it to be the art of writing, than he who states it to be the art of reading, so that neither defines, but he who states both of these, since there cannot be many definitions of the same thing. In some instances then, the case is really as we have stated, but in others it is not, as in those which do not essentially belong to both; thus, medicine (is the science) of producing disease and health, for of the one it is said (to be the science) essentially, but of the other accidentally, as to produce disease is simply foreign from medicine. Wherefore he does not more define, who refers to both, than he does who refers to one, of these, but perhaps even in a worse manner, since any other person is able to produce disease.

Besides, (he errs,) who does not refer to the better, but to the worse, when there are many things, to which that defined, belongs, since every science and faculty seems to belong to what is best.

Again, whether what is asserted is not placed in its proper genus, must be observed from the elements belonging to genera, as we stated before.

Moreover, if stepping over, he speaks of genera, as he who (defines) justice to be a habit productive of equality, or distributive of the equal, for when he thus defines, he passes over virtue. Omitting then the genus of justice, he does not state what its nature is, for the essence of every thing is connected with