Handbook of the History of Logic: - Fordham University Faculty

324 Henrik Lagerlund
of their predication, while this is not true of accidents, since they can begin or stop
being part of a subject. There is hence a question, which caused lots of debate in
later medieval philosophy, of the intension and remission of accidents, which does
not occur for the other four. They are predicated univocally, while accidents are
predicated denominatively.
On Categories
According to the textbooks 88 the Categories is about that which can be predicated
and that which something can be predicated of. They begin, however, by outlining
ways of predication. Peter of Spain explains that categorical propositions express
something of something else, and there are several ways that something can be in
something else as a predicate is in a subject, that it, there are several modes of
being in something. He distinguishes eight such modes. Something is in something
else:
1. As a part is in a whole.
Example: The fingers of the hand.
2. As a whole is integrated with its parts.
Example: The house with its walls, roof and foundation.
3. As a species is in its genus.
Example: Human being in animal.
4. As a genus is in its species.
Example: Animal in human.
5. As form in matter.
Subdivided into:
5’. As a substantial form in matter.
Example: The human soul in its body.
5”. As an accidental form in matter.
Example: White in human beings.
6. As its first efficient cause.
Example: Reign in ruling.
7. As its final cause.
Example: Virtue in beatitude.
8. As in a vessel.
Example: A thing located in place.
These are taken from Aristotle’s Physics IV.3 and they are also repeated and
elaborated in Boethius’ commentary on the Categories. These divisions are used
to explain in what way something is ‘said of a subject’ and ‘in a subject’. According
to Peter, on must understand ‘said of a subject’ as something said of an inferior,
that is, it is used as in 3 above, and being ‘in a subject’ is taken as in 5”, as a
accident is in a subject.
88William does not deal with the categories in his book, but both Roger Bacon and Lambert
of Auxerre do.