Humanitext Reader

Aristotle · Parts of Animals §1.2.1-1.2.2

Flaws of Dichotomy in Animal Classification

Passage 6 of 84 · Greek

Summary

The author points out the problems with classification by "dichotomy" (dividing a genus into two differences), arguing that it tears apart homogeneous animals and creates redundant repetitions.

§1.2.12 Λαμβάνουσι δʼ ἔνιοι τὸ καθʼ ἕκαστον, διαιρούμενοι τὸ γένος εἰς δύο διαφοράς.
2 Some people grasp the particular by dividing the genus into two differences.
τοῦτο δʼ ἐστὶ τῇ μὲν οὐ ῥᾴδιον, τῇ δὲ ἀδύνατον.
But this is in one way not easy, and in another way impossible.
ἐνίων γὰρ ἔσται διαφορὰ μία μόνη, τὰ δʼ ἄλλα περίεργα, οἷον ὑπόπουν, δίπουν, σχιζόπουν, ἄπουν· αὕτη γὰρ μόνη κυρία.
For in some cases there will be only one difference, while the others are superfluous, such as having feet, two-footed, cloven-footed, footless; for this one alone is decisive.
εἰ δὲ μὴ, ταὐτὸν πολλάκις ἀναγκαῖον λέγειν.
Otherwise, it is necessary to say the same thing many times.
ἔτι δὲ προσήκει μὴ διασπᾶν ἕκαστον γένος, οἷον τοὺς ὄρνιθας τοὺς μὲν ἐν τῇδε τοὺς δʼ ἐν ἄλλῃ διαιρέσει, καθάπερ ἔχουσιν αἱ γεγραμμέναι διαιρέσεις· ἐκεῖ γὰρ τοὺς μὲν μετὰ τῶν ἐνύδρων συμβαίνει διῃρῆσθαι, §1.2.22 τοὺς δʼ ἐν ἄλλῳ γένει.
Furthermore, it is appropriate not to tear apart each genus, such as birds, by putting some in this division and others in another, just as the written divisions have it; for there it happens that some are divided along with aquatic animals, 2 and others in another genus.
ταύτῃ μὲν οὖν τῇ ὁμοιότητι ὄρνις ὄνομα κεῖται, ἑτέρᾳ δʼ ἰχθύς. ἄλλαι δʼ εἰσὶν ἀνώνυμοι, σἷον τὸ ἔναιμον καὶ τὸ ἄναιμον· ἐφʼ ἑκατέρῳ γὰρ τούτων οὐ κεῖται ἓν ὄνομα.
Therefore, for this similarity the name "bird" is established, and for the other "fish." But others are nameless, such as the blooded and the bloodless; for no single name is established for each of these.
εἴπερ οὖν μηδὲν τῶν ὁμογενῶν διασπαστέον, ἡ εἰς δύο διαίρεσις μάταιος ἂν εἴη· οὕτω γὰρ διαιροῦντας ἀναγκαῖον χωρίζειν καὶ διασπᾶν· τῶν πολυπόδων γάρ ἐστι τὰ μὲν ἐν τοῖς πεζοῖς τὰ δʼ ἐν τοῖς ἐνύδροις.
If, then, none of the homogeneous things is to be torn apart, division into two would be futile; for to those who divide in this way, it is necessary to separate and tear apart; for of the many-footed animals, some are among the land animals, and others among the aquatic ones.

Notes

  1. 1.2.1τὸ καθʼ ἕκαστον — In this context of classification, "the particular" refers not to individual specimens but to the lowest species (infima species) at the end of the division of a genus.
  2. 1.2.1αὕτη γὰρ μόνη κυρία — The demonstrative pronoun αὕτη (feminine singular) refers back to the "single difference" (διαφορά) in the preceding clause, specifically the last or essential difference in the chain of division.
  3. 1.2.1αἱ γεγραμμέναι διαιρέσεις — "The written divisions" refers to the classification charts or written divisions of genera (such as those in the Academy) that were actually in use at the time.
  4. 1.2.2τοὺς δʼ ἐν ἄλλῳ γένει — This phrase continues the accusative-with-infinitive construction from the previous section (§1.2.1, συμβαίνει διῃρῆσθαι), meaning "[it happens that] others [are divided] in another genus."
  5. 1.2.2ὄνομα κεῖται — The phrase ὄνομα κεῖται ("a name is set/established") functions as the passive equivalent of ὄνομα τίθημι ("to give/establish a name"), where the dative (τῇ ὁμοιότητι) denotes the object to which the name is given.

Cite this passage

Aristotle, Parts of Animals §1.2.1-1.2.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg030.humanitext-grc1:1.2.1-1.2.2

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