[1052a]
[15]
That
"one" has several meanings has been already stated1 in our distinction of
the various meanings of terms. But although it has a number of senses,
the things which are primarily and essentially called one, and not in
an accidental sense, may be summarized under four heads:(1.) That which is continuous,
[20]
either absolutely or in
particular that which is continuous by natural growth and not by
contact or ligature; and of these things those are more strictly and
in a prior sense one whose motion is more simple and
indivisible. (2.) Of this kind in a still higher
degree is that which is a whole and has a definite shape or form,
particularly that which is such by nature and not by constraint (like
things which are joined by glue or nails or by being tied together),
but which contains in itself the cause of its continuity.A thing is of this kind if its
motion is one and indivisible in respect of place and time; so that
clearly if a thing has as its principle of motion the primary kind of
motion (i.e. locomotion) in its primary form (i.e. circular
locomotion), it is in the primary sense one spatial
magnitude.2Some things, then, are one in this sense,
qua continuous or whole; the other things
which are one are those whose formula is one.Such are the things of which the concept is
one, i.e. of which the concept is indivisible; and this is indivisible
when the object is indivisible (3.) in form or (4.) in number. Now in
number the individual is indivisible, and in form that which is
indivisible in comprehension and knowledge; so that that which causes
the unity of substances must be one in the primary sense.Such, then, in number are the
meanings of "one": the naturally continuous, the whole, the
individual, and the universal. All these are one because they are
indivisible; some in motion, and others in concept or formula.
2 This description applies to the celestial spheres.
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