PHYSICAL POWERS DO NOT FORM A SECONDARY KIND OF QUALITY.

How can physical powers form a secondary kind of qualities? If they

be qualities only so far as they are powers, this definition would

not suit all qualities, as has been said above. If boxing ability be

a quality as far as it is a disposition, it is useless to attribute

to it a power, since power is implied in habituation. Further, how

should we distinguish the natural boxing ability from that which is

scientifically acquired? If both be qualities, they do not imply any

difference so far as one is natural, and the other acquired; that is

merely an accident, since the capacity of boxing is the same form in

both cases.

Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3 In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods · 第 253 / 442 题