@aristotle_DeInterpretatione

Synthesis

Chapter 1

Introduction to the other chapters:

1. We must have a definition for “name”, “verb”, “negation”, “affirmation”, “statement”, “sentence”. (16a1)

Theses:

1. Spoken sounds are symbols of affections in the soul. (16a3)
2. Written words are symbols of spoken sounds. (16a3)
3. The symbols differ, but the symbolized is the same for everyone. (16a5).
4. Some thoughts are either true or false, and other thoughts are neither, because truth and falsity need combination and separation.
5. Thus, names and verbs when nothing further is added are like thoughts with no combination and separation, for by themselves they are neither true or false.

Definitions:

1. Symbols = something that points to, represents, communicates the idea of the symbolized.

Chapter 2

Theses:

1. A name (or noun) is: (16a20)
   1. a spoken sound
      1. or articulated sound
      2. emphasis on the “spoken” part, uniquely human ability to produce speech as a form of communication.
   2. significant by convention
      1. even unarticulated sounds have meaning, what differentiate names is that they have become a symbol by convention. (16a25)
   3. without time
   4. none of whose parts is significant in separation
      1. in simple nouns, the parts are not significant at all. (16a22)
      2. in complex nouns, the parts influence the meaning, but they aren’t independently significant for the meaning of the noun, meaning that the whole noun has a meaning that is different from just grouping the parts.
2. Indefinite names are expressions which have no correct name for it. Such as “not man”, which is neither a phrase nor a negation. (16a30)
   1. Why is it not a negation? Because a negation has to deny a proposition?
3. A name combined with time (“is”, “was”, “will be”) becomes an expression that is either true or false. (16b2)
   1. Thus, inflections of names such as Philo’s or to-Philo are not names. (16b1, 16b2)

Chapter 3

Theses:

1. A verb is: (16b6)
   1. what additionally signifies time
      1. signifies the present time.
      2. a verb signifies the specific meaning of the action AND the time of that action taking place.
      3. e.g. “growth” (noun) vs “growing” (verb). Growing signifies growth that is taking place now.
   2. no part of it being significant separately
   3. is a sign of things said of something else (16b9)
2. Indefinite verbs are expressions that additionally signifies time and is a sign of things said of something else but there is no name. (16b10)
   1. “does not grow”, “does not recover”
   2. Objection: “Because they hold indifferently of anything whether existent or non-existent”. Seems false. Something non-existent can’t be “non stagnating”.
      1. Response: Every verb presupposes a kind of subject that is able to do that action.
3. Inflections of verbs are the paronymous words of verbs that signify times outside the present time. (16b16)
   1. “recovered”, “will-recover”
4. Verbs, when spoken by themselves, are names, and signify something. (16b19)