Book 1
2
The originatorsOr perhaps importers from the Pythagoreans of S. Italy. of this theory, then, used not to postulate Ideas of groups of things in which they positedPerhaps we posit. an order of priority and posteriorityA is prior in nature (though not necessarily in time) to B, when A can exist without B but not B without A; and they cannot then be on a par as members of one class. (for which reason they did not construct an Idea of numbers in general). But Good is predicated alike in the Categories of Substance, of Quality, and Relation; yet the Absolute,Lit. that which is by itself. or Substance, is prior in nature to the Relative, which seems to be a sort of offshoot or accident of Substance; so that there cannot be a common Idea corresponding to the absolutely good and the relatively good.
