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Theophrastus · Fragments §15.1

The Principles of Contraries and Distinct Genera

Passage 3 of 196 · Greek

Summary

A passage where Theophrastus argues in his Topics that the principles of contraries are themselves contrary and do not belong to a single genus, and that excess/deficiency and form/privation may also be principles.

§15.1Fr. 15 Θ. ἐν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ Τοπικοῖς τάδε γέγραφεν Ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐναντίαι τῶν ἐναντίων αἱ ἀρχαὶ, δῆλον ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐν ἑνὶ γένει ταῦτα, καθάπερ οὐδὲ τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ κακὸν καὶ κίνησις καὶ στάσις.
Fr. 15 Theophrastus has written the following in his Topics: "Since the principles of contraries are themselves contrary, it is clear that these are not even in a single genus, just as neither are good and bad, and motion and rest.
Εἴη δʼ ἂν καὶ ὑπεροχὴ καὶ ἔλλειψις ἐναντία γε καὶ ἀρχαὶ, καὶ εἶδος καὶ στέρησις.
And excess and deficiency might also be contraries and indeed principles, as well as form and privation."

Notes

  1. §15.1ἐναντίαι τῶν ἐναντίων αἱ ἀρχαί — The genitive τῶν ἐναντίων (of contraries) can modify the noun αἱ ἀρχαί (the principles), meaning "the principles of contraries," or it can be governed by the adjective ἐναντίαι ("contrary to contraries"). Here, the former interpretation is adopted: "the principles of contraries are themselves contrary."
  2. §15.1Εἴη δʼ ἂν — The optative with the particle ἄν expresses potentiality (potential optative), indicating a logical possibility or a cautious assertion ("might be" or "could be").

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §15.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:15.1

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