Book 13
6
since if we regard the one unit as prior to the other,This is a necessary implication of the theory of inaddible units (cf. Aristot. Met. 13.6.1, 2). it will be prior also to the 2 which is composed of them; because whenever one thing is prior and another posterior, their compound will be prior to the latter and posterior to the former.So the order of generation will be: (i) Unity (ungenerated); (2) first unit in 2; (3) second unit in 2; and the Ideal 2 will come between (2) and (3).
7
Further, since the Ideal 1 is first, and then comes a particular 1 which is first of the other 1’s but second after the Ideal 1, and then a third 1 which is next
7
after the second but third after the first 1, it follows that the units will be prior to the numbers after which they are called; e.g., there will be a third unit in 2 before 3 exists, and a fourth and fifth in 3 before these numbers exist.This is a corollary to the previous argument, and depends upon an identification of ones (including the Ideal One or Unity) with units.
8
It is true that nobody has represented the units of numbers as inaddible in this way; but according to the principles held by these thinkers even this view is quite reasonable, although in actual fact it is untenable.
