qua: The criteria by which the highest standards of the nature are of an object of cognition is Aristotle's concept of "qua". For example, the criteria by which the highest standards of human nature are defined is Aristotle's concept of Man "qua Man." Everything has a "qua." Religion "qua religion," etc. It is the doctrine of defining the nature of the subject, then discovering the metaphysical values of, or necessary for, that subject. The defined nature of "qua Man" according to Aristotle is that he is the "rational animal." Therefore, any quality or virtue that corresponds to rationality is Man's normal nature. |