Symbolic Logic

Chapter 29

Chapter 29280 wordsPublic domain

_DEFINITIONS._

It is evident that every Member of a _Species_ is _also_ a Member of the _Genus_ out of which that Species has been picked, and that it possesses the _Differentia_ of that Species. Hence it may be represented by a Name consisting of two parts, one being a Name representing any Member of the _Genus_, and the other being the _Differentia_ of that Species. Such a Name is called a '=Definition=' of any Member of that Species, and to give it such a Name is to '=define=' it.

[Thus, we may define a "Treasure" as a "valuable Thing." In this case we regard "Things" as the _Genus_, and "valuable" as the _Differentia_.]

The following Examples, of this Process, may be taken as models for working others.

[Note that, in each Definition, the Substantive, representing a Member (or Members) of the _Genus_, is printed in Capitals.]

1. Define "a Treasure."

_Ans._ "a valuable THING."

2. Define "Treasures."

_Ans._ "valuable THINGS."

3. Define "a Town."

_Ans._ "a material artificial THING, consisting of houses and streets." pg007 4. Define "Men."

_Ans._ "material, living THINGS, belonging to the Animal Kingdom, having two hands and two feet";

or else

"ANIMALS having two hands and two feet."

5. Define "London."

_Ans._ "the material artificial THING, which consists of houses and streets, and has four million inhabitants";

or else

"the TOWN which has four million inhabitants."

[Note that we here use the article "the" instead of "a", because we happen to know that there is only _one_ such Thing.

The Reader can set himself any number of Examples of this Process, by simply choosing the Name of any common Thing (such as "house," "tree," "knife"), making a Definition for it, and then testing his answer by referring to any English Dictionary.]

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