In the philosophy of Aristotle there seems to be no room for the discussion and the analysis of individuality. What is unique belongs to the realm of the accidental, which Aristotle excludes from the domain of science. Moreover, Aristotle does not seem to regard the fact that we cannot provide a logos of what is unique as a problem. If we read the Metaphysics, we get the impression that for him the only questions that matter are “what” questions. That is, questions that ask for a solution to the problem of what general kind of entity a certain substance is. All the attributes that are not essential play no or little role in the characterization of the nature of substances. Thus, for instance, the fact that Mozart is a composer, which is something that we tend to regard as constituting his very being, is considered by Aristotle a merely contingent feature of a member of the human species.
“Who’s this?” Towards an Aristotelian Answer
JVF Conference Papers
