Aristotle's theory of abstraction (Q2438585)

This is a very informative study of Aristotle's theory of abstraction, offering a modern view of Avicenna's medieval doctrine of the threefold distinction of essence. It is relevant for the philosophy of mathematics in that it provides an explanation for the infallibility of the \textit{noûs}, for what Aristotle means when he states that the physicist uses ``addition'', i.e.\ synthesis, while the mathematician uses ``subtraction'', i.e.\ abstraction, and for how Aristotle thought it is possible for us to know the first principles of demonstration, which demonstration assumes but cannot prove.