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CONCERNING BEING AND ESSENCE 17 

concerning it except what applies to it according to this mode, 
whence whatever else is attributed to it is a false attribution. 
For example, to man inasmuch as he is man rational and ani- 
mal applies and the other things which fall within his defini- 
tion. White or black, however, and whatsoever of this mode, 
which is not of the ratio of humanity, does not apply to man 
inasmuch as he is man. Accordingly, if it were asked whether 
this nature thus considered can be said to be one or more than 
one, neither ought to be conceded, because each is outside the 
concept of humanity, and either one can happen to it (ac- 
cidere). For if plurality were to belong to the concept of 
humanity, it could never be one although nevertheless it is one 
according as it is in Socrates. Similarly, if unity were to belong 
to its ratio, then would it be one and the same of Socrates and 
of Plato, nor could it be multiplied (plurificart) in many. It is 
considered in another mode according to the existence (essc) 
which it has in this or that, and in this mode something is 
predicated concerning it by means of accident (per accidens), 
by reason of that in which it is, as for instance it is said that 
man is white because Socrates is white, although this does not 
apply to man inasmuch as he is man. 

But this nature has a twofold existence: having one existence 
in singulars and another in the soul, and according to both of 
the two, accident follows upon the nature spoken of, and in 
singulars also it has a manifold existence according to the 
diversity of the singulars. And nevertheless to this very nature 
according to its primary consideration, that is to say, its abso- 
lute one, none of these (existences) ought to belong. For it is 
false to say that the essence of man, inasmuch as he is man, 
has existence in this singular, because if existence in this singu- 
lar applied to man as man, then (man) would never exist out- 
side of this singular. Similarly, also, if it applied to man as 
man not to exist in this singular, (man) would never exist in