- Source
- Aristotle. Aristotle's Metaphysics, Vol. 1-2. Ross, William David, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924 (printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg025.humanitext-grc2:4.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-28
Aristotle introduces the existence of a unique science (metaphysics) that universally contemplates being qua being and its essential attributes, distinguishing it from other specialized sciences, such as mathematics, which only examine a particular part of being.
ἔστιν ἐπιστήμη τις ἣ θεωρεῖ τὸ ὂν ᾗ ὂν1 καὶ τὰ τούτῳ ὑπάρχοντα καθʼ αὑτό. αὕτη δʼ ἐστὶν οὐδεμιᾷ τῶν ἐν μέρει λεγομένων ἡ αὐτή· οὐδεμία γὰρ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπισκοπεῖ καθόλου περὶ τοῦ ὄντος ᾗ ὄν, ἀλλὰ μέρος αὐτοῦ τι ἀποτεμόμεναι περὶ τούτου θεωροῦσι τὸ συμβεβηκός, οἷον αἱ μαθηματικαὶ τῶν ἐπιστημῶν. ἐπεὶ δὲ τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἀκροτάτας αἰτίας ζητοῦμεν, δῆλον ὡς φύσεώς τινος αὐτὰς ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι καθʼ αὑτήν.2 εἰ οὖν καὶ οἱ τὰ στοιχεῖα τῶν ὄντων ζητοῦντες ταύτας τὰς ἀρχὰς ἐζήτουν, ἀνάγκη καὶ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ ὄντος εἶναι μὴ κατὰ συμβεβηκὸς ἀλλʼ ᾗ ὄν· διὸ καὶ ἡμῖν τοῦ ὄντος ᾗ ὂν τὰς πρώτας αἰτίας ληπτέον.
There is a certain science which contemplates being qua being and the things that belong to it per se. This is not the same as any of the so-called particular sciences; for none of the other sciences examines being qua being universally, but cutting off some part of it they contemplate what is accidental to this part, as for example the mathematical sciences do. And since we are seeking the principles and the highest causes, it is clear that these must necessarily belong to some nature per se. If, then, those who sought the elements of existing things were also seeking these principles, it is necessary that the elements of being also should be elements of being not by accident but qua being. Therefore, we too must grasp the first causes of being qua being.
- 1003a21τὸ ὂν ᾗ ὂν
The particle ᾗ, used here adverbially, derives from the feminine dative singular of the relative pronoun ὅς, meaning 'insofar as' or 'under the aspect of'. This is a foundational concept in Aristotelian philosophy, signifying that 'being' is to be investigated not under any particular attribute or part, but precisely in respect of its own nature as existing.
- 1003a26φύσεώς τινος αὐτὰς ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι καθʼ αὑτήν
The accusative pronoun αὐτὰς (referring back to 'principles and highest causes') functions as the subject of the infinitive εἶναι. The genitive phrase φύσεώς τινος acts as a predicate genitive of belonging or possession, translated as 'belonging to some nature'. The feminine singular prepositional phrase καθʼ αὑτήν ('per se' / 'in itself') modifies the feminine noun φύσεως, rather than the feminine accusative plural αὐτὰς.
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — note 1