Kitap 1
4
and others state the Third Man. Several arguments bore this name. Here the reference is probably to the following: If X is a man because he resembles the Idea of Man, there must be a third man in whom the humanity of these two is united. Cf.Plat. Parm. 132a-133a. And in general the arguments for the Forms do away with things which are more important to us exponents of the Forms than the existence of the Ideas; for they imply that it is not the Dyad that is primary, but NumberThe Indeterminate Dyad, being to Aristotle a glorified 2, falls under the Idea of Number, which is therefore prior to it.; and that the relative is prior to the absoluteThis seems to be a development of the same objection. Number, which is relative, becomes prior to the supposedly self-subsistent Dyad.; and all the other conclusions in respect of which certain persons, by following up the views held about the Ideas, have gone against the principles of the theory.
