Now we must, however, be careful that in the question just mentioned not only a more exact delimitation is sought of what Nature, movement, or beauty is, but also that, at the same time, an interpretation is given of what the "what" means, in what sense the τί is to be understood. That which "what" means is called the quid est, τὸ quid, the quiddity, the whatness. However, the quiddity is determined differently in the various periods of philosophy. Thus, for example, the philosophy of Plato is a specific interpretation of what the τί signifies, namely the ἰδέα. That we mean the "idea" when we ask about the τί and the the quid is by no means to be taken as a matter of course. Aristotle gives an interpretation of the τί different from that of Plato. Kant gives another interpretation of the τί, Hegel still another. That which is asked each time by means of the clues of the τί, the quid, the "what," is to be newly determined each time. In every case when, in regard to philosophy, we ask, "what is that?" then we are asking an originally Greek question.

¶ 5:51 PM