Book 5 / Chapter 1
Paragraph 3 - Recognizing Contraries Through Correlation and Contradiction
Explanation - Part By Part
"Now often one contrary state is recognized from its contrary, and often states are recognized from the subjects that exhibit them; for (A) if good condition is known, bad condition also becomes known, and (B) good condition is known from the things that are in good condition, and they from it."
Aristotle is highlighting the idea that we often understand things by comparing them to their opposites or by observing their manifestations in real-world examples. For instance:
- If we know what a "good condition" looks like, we can recognize its opposite, the "bad condition." The clear understanding of one helps reveal the nature of the other.
- Similarly, we can recognize a state (such as good health or good character) by observing it in people or things that exhibit it. For example, seeing someone with strong, healthy muscles gives us a clear picture of what "good condition" means, and this understanding reinforces our grasp of the concept.
In essence, understanding comes either through contrast (opposites) or through concrete examples (things that embody the idea). It’s a way of clarifying abstract concepts by linking them to both what they are and what they are not.
"If good condition is firmness of flesh, it is necessary both that bad condition should be flabbiness of flesh and that the wholesome should be that which causes firmness in flesh."
Aristotle is illustrating a logical relationship between opposites. He explains that if we define "good condition" as something specific—like firmness of flesh (a sign of health)—then its opposite, "bad condition," must also take on a specific meaning—in this case, flabbiness of flesh (a sign of poor health). Similarly, "wholesome" would refer to things that contribute to this good condition, such as actions or substances that promote firmness in the body.
The point is that understanding one concept (like a positive state) also involves understanding its opposite (its negative state), and both are connected to the specific qualities or characteristics associated with those conditions.
"And it follows for the most part that if one contrary is ambiguous the other also will be ambiguous; e.g. if 'just' is so, that 'unjust' will be so too."
In this part, Aristotle is highlighting a key idea about opposites or contraries: if the meaning of one side (i.e., one concept) is unclear or has multiple interpretations, then the meaning of its opposite will also become unclear or open to interpretation. For example, if we struggle to define what it means to be "just"—if it is ambiguous or has different meanings depending on the situation—then the idea of being "unjust" will also lack clarity or precision, as the two ideas are deeply linked. One's understanding of an opposite is shaped by how we define its counterpart.