The book offers paired expressions such as 'animal, horse' and 'human, writer.' Do not classify them by surface resemblance alone.
1. Identify the species or nature being examined.
2. Ask whether the concept is inside or outside its essence.
3. If essential, determine whether it is genus, species or differentia.
4. If accidental, ask whether it is distinctive or shared across kinds.
For 'animal, horse,' animal is the shared essential genus relative to horse.
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A method for the book’s paired exercises
The Five Universals: Genus, Species, Differentia, Property, Common Accident
The book offers paired expressions such as 'animal, horse' and 'human, writer.' Do not classify them by surface resemblance alone.
1. Identify the species or nature being examined.
2. Ask whether the concept is inside or outside its essence.
3. If essential, determine whether it is genus, species or differentia.
4. If accidental, ask whether it is distinctive or shared across kinds.
For 'animal, horse,' animal is the shared essential genus relative to horse.