Vat.gr.244

To Fortune

Note that the present book is divided into two parts: into the prologue and into the instruction. And the prologue begins from "Being," but the instruction from "It seems, however."

Porphyry also had this purpose in the prologue, and he spoke of the need for them. He speaks of them simply and universally.
Because those who came after Plato also emulated these five sounds the predicables, and before all, Aristotle. For he in the Topics stated four universals: the definition, the property, the genus, and the accident. The definition is more universal and contains both the genus and the difference. The universal is before all. Some, however, say so, because since the discourse is about the universals, and it has been said that the universals are five: the genus, the species, the difference, the property, and the accident; of these, the genus is the first. That the genus and the species are spoken of simply.

Regarding Genus

Note that "genus" is spoken of in three ways: in one way, the collection of some things having a relation to one thing and to each other, such as the genus of the Heracleidae.

It seems, however, that neither the genus nor the species is spoken of simply. Genus is spoken of as the collection of those having a relation toward one thing and the collection of some things having a relation toward one thing and toward each other; according to which meaning the "genus of the Heracleidae" is spoken of, from the relation to one, I mean to Heracles, and the multitude of those having the affinity toward one another from him, separated by a cutting off from other genera. Genus is also spoken of in another way, the beginning of the generation of each, whether from the parent or from the place in which someone was born.

Such as if we say that so-and-so has his genus from Tantalus, or so-and-so from Heracles.

For thus we say that Orestes has his genus from Tantalus, and Hyllus from Heracles. And again, that Pindar is Theban in genus, and Plato is Athenian; for the fatherland is a certain beginning of each person's generation, just as the father is.

Note that the genus signifying the collection of those having a relation to one thing, such as the genus of the Heracleidae, is not the genus sought now.

A large, illuminated capital epsilon begins the text, marking the transition into the definition of genus.