Aristotle in his Categories 10, 13a37ff, De Interpretatione 4f, 17a8–37; 10, 19b5– 20b12 and Prior Analytics i.2, 25a1–13; i.46, 51b5–52b35 introduced a distinction between affirmative and negative (kataphátikos and apophátikos, or in noun form katáphasis and apóphasis). Aristotle’s views are not my concern here. But already Aristotle’s treatment of the notions raises some fundamental questions:

thereby demonstrating a well-educated, informed, probing, and critical mind. He was familiar with various Berber dialects, as well as Celtic-Iberian nomenclatures and, through Ibn Juljul, Latin. He cited a number of unknown sources including one, simply, as "a Byzantine". In his introduction he said that he had studied pharmacy in the city of Marrakesh where, through his teacher, he became fami...