Inherence

Inherence

Inherence refers to Empedocles' idea that the qualities of matter come from the relative proportions of each of the four elements entering into a thing. The idea was further developed by Socrates and Aristotle.

That Socrates accepted (or at least did not reject) Empedocles' claim can be seen in the Timaeus. However, he applied it also to cover the presence of form in matter. The form was an active principle. Matter, on the other hand is passive, being a mere possibility that the forms bring to life.

Aristotle clearly accepted Empedocles' claim [http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/a/aristotle/corruption/] , but he rejected Socrates' idea of the forms. According to Aristotle, the accidents of a substance are incorporeal beings which are present in it. "By being 'present in a subject' I do not mean present as parts are present in a whole, but being incapable of existence apart from the said subject." ("The Categories" 1a 24-26)

A closely related term is participation. If an attribute "inheres" in a subject, then the subject is said to "participate" in the attribute. For example, if the attribute "in Athens" inheres in Socrates, then Socrates is said to participate in the attribute, "in Athens."


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  • inhérence — [ inerɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1377; lat. scolast. inhærentia, de inhærere→ inhérent 1 ♦ Caractère inhérent. L inhérence entre deux choses. « L inhérence de la technicité aux objets techniques » (G. Simondon ). 2 ♦ Philos. Caractère de ce qui est inhérent.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Inherence — In*her ence, Inherency In*her en*cy, n. [Cf. F. inh[ e]rence.] The state of inhering; permanent existence in something; innateness; inseparable and essential connection. Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inherence — index characteristic Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • inherence — 1570s, from M.L. inhaerentia, from inhaerentem (see INHERENT (Cf. inherent)). Related: Inherency (c.1600) …   Etymology dictionary

  • inherence — [in hir′əns, inher′əns] n. [ME inhaerentia] 1. the fact or state of inhering or being inherent 2. Philos. the relation of an attribute to its subject …   English World dictionary

  • INHÉRENCE — s. f. T. de Philosophie. Il se dit de L union des choses inséparables par leur nature, ou qui ne peuvent être séparées que mentalement et par abstraction. L inhérence de l accident à la substance …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • INHÉRENCE — n. f. T. didactique Union des choses inséparables par leur nature, qui ne peuvent être séparées que mentalement et par abstraction. L’inhérence de l’accident à la substance …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)

  • inhérence — (i né ran s ) s. f. Qualité de ce qui est inhérent. L inhérence de l accident à la substance. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Inhérent …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • inherence — noun the state of inhering; the state of being a fixed characteristic the inherence of polysemy in human language • Syn: ↑inherency • Derivationally related forms: ↑inherent, ↑inhere • Hypernyms: ↑presence …   Useful english dictionary

  • inherence — noun Date: 1577 the quality, state, or fact of inhering …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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