 The analysis of the question of the primary and direct object by origin of appropriate cognition is far shorter and less problematic. Appropriate cognition is the knowledge we obtain once we are capable of enumerating in an orderly way all the elementary metaphysical components of a thing. Consequently, the starting points of this kind of knowledge cannot but be the most general universals, as their notions constitute the basis from which the notions of less general universals and of singulars themselves will have to be “built” and understood. The reason is that what is subordinated to something else cannot be known in an appropriate manner if those things which are above it in the categorial hierarchy and which constitute its essence are not known (fols. 10vb–11ra).