Simple Apprehension

SIMPLE APPREHENSION

Formation of Idea or Concept

• 1. Perception – the process by which we make use of our material sense organ (sense of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch) to form a sense perception in our brain center.

Product: Phantasm – the formed object of the memory and imagination

Formation of Idea or Concept

• 2. Abstraction – the mental process by which we draw or grasp the universal and essential characteristics

• Product: Idea or Concept – the intellectual representation of things of the same kind

• Term- sensible, conventional sign, expressive of an idea

Properties of a Term

• Comprehension – sum total of all elements expressive of an idea (also called implication or connotation)

• Extension – sum total of all individuals and group of classes to which an idea can be applied (denotation)

• *the greater comprehension, the lesser extension• *the lesser comprehension, the greater extension

Comprehension and Extension

ComprehensionRational, sentient, living, material substanceSentient, living, material substanceLiving, material substanceMaterial substanceSubstance

Dominican, Catholic, Private UniversityCatholic, Private universityPrivate UniversityUniversity

ExtensionMan Animals, ManPlants, Animals, ManMinerals, Plants, Animals, ManSpirits, Minerals, Plants, Animals, Man

USTUST, La Salle, Ateneo, etc.UST, La Salle, Ateneo, Siliman, etc.UST, La Salle, Ateneo, Siliman, UP, etc.

Classification of Terms

• 1. According to Extension1.1. SINGULAR – when applied to one single object or

subject1.1.1 Proper Noun – Maria Clara, Ana Hulaton1.1.2 Superlatives – First Place, most beautiful1.1.3 Demonstratives – This class, That wall1.1.4 modified by article “the” – the pale moon, the

man1.1.5 personal pronoun – I, you, he, she, it, they, we


• 1.2 PARTICULAR – when the term represents a part or portion of the whole

• 1.2.1 Indefinite Pronouns – Some children, Several men, few, many, most

• 1.2.2 Use of numbers – Nine planets, Seven dwarfs, 12 apostles

• 1.2.3 article “a” or “an” – an employee, a logic student


• 1.3 UNIVERSAL – when the term represents the whole

• 1.3.1 Universal Expressions – All, Every, whichever, whatever, No one, none etc.

• 1.3.2 Universal Idea – Man is a rational animal., Apple is a fruit bearing tree.

• 1.3.3 “a”, “an” or “the” if the idea is universal- The lion is a carnivorous animal. A moment of truth is a moment of freedom.


• 2. According to Definition • 2.1. First Intention – understanding of a term

according to reality. • God is a Supreme being. All women belong to the female

specie. Ghosts are spirits

• Second Intention – understanding of a term according to particular situations.

• That man is a womanizer. Perfumes are the products of his company. A movie is sometimes boring.


• 3. According to Comprehension• 3.1 Concrete – one that presents to the mind a

form as inherent in a subject (woman, book, priest, musician, dog, bag)

• 3.2 Abstract – one that presents to the mind a form as separated from its subject (goodness, rationality, beauty, freedom, tableness, sweetness)


• 4. According Quality• 4.1 Positive – signifies what a being possesses

(alive, beautiful, wise, tall, sunny, happy)

• 4.2 Negative – signifies the non-existence or non-possession of something (blind, dirty, irrational, dark, dead, foolish)


• 5. According to the manner of meaning• 5.1 Univocal /homologous – if a term signifies one and

single meaning • 3 Instances of univocity

1. when the term has no other possible meaning other than itself (Proton, Electron, NaCl2, classical physics)

2. if the term used is defined(Man is a rational being composed of body and soul.A king is the head of state in a monarchical form of

government.)


• 3. When the terms used are taken to signify one meaning in at least two instances

Water is heavier than air. The air is fresh.A book is a useful tool for education. It would be

good to read a book once in a while.


• 5.2 Equivocal – if the term expresses two or more totally unrelated and different meanings

• 3 instances of Equivocity 1. Equivocal in pronunciation only

sun-son, flair-flair, pail-pale2. Equivocal in writing only

bow (of an arrow) –bow (inclination)live (life) – live (actual)

3. Equivocal in writing and pronunciationbark (of a tree)- bark (of a dog)pen (for writing)- pen (cage)


• 5.3 Analogous – if a term expresses similarly dissimilar meaning

• Analogy by attribution – if a term can be applied to different things because of an intrinsic relation

Good- life, job, health, day, man, bookHealthy- body, food, exercise, athletes

• Analogy by proportion – if a term can be applied to different things because of some resemblance

Head- of a body, of the familyfoot- of a body, of mountainmountain- mass of land, mountain of paper/work


• 6. According to Relation• Contradictory – terms expressing opposition to one

another living – non-living, white- non-white, male-non-male

• Contrary – terms expressing extremes among objects of a series

black – white, large – small, rich-poor• Privative – two ideas, one of which signifies perfection

and the other denies the perfectionsight-blindness, sanity-insanity, light-darkness


• Correlative – two incompatible ideas that bear mutual relationship with one another in such a way that one cannot be understood without the other.

husband-wife, ruler – subject, master-servant, mother-child, bride-groom


• 7. According to Meaning• 7.1 Absolute Terms- terms that signify a

concept of the meaning of a complete substance endowed with its independent reality.

• 7.2 Connotative Terms – terms that signify a concept as an existing accident in a substance.

Supposition of Terms

• Supposition – sub (under) + ponere (to put or to place)

-the precise meaning that a term bears in a sentence

-the meaning of a term in a proposition

Classification of Supposition

• A. Proper Supposition – stands for the proper object in the real order.

• 1. Material Supposition – stands for the term itself as either written or spoken.

Curtain is a seven letter word.To run is a verb.Lion is a two syllable


• 2. Formal Supposition – stand for a concept or a universal

• 2.a. Logical – stands for a mere conceptMan is a specie.Man is a universal idea.Corruption was the topic of the

seminar.


• 2.b. Real Supposition – stands for the thing itself

All men are mortal.All men are bodily substances.All men are two legged individuals.


• B. Improper Supposition- stands for another term that it suggests. (metaphorical or figurative)

Lion is the national emblem of Great Britain.

The Board of Directors adjourned the meeting at 5pm.

Definition

• Definition – definire – “to set the limits” - is a process of simplifying the meaning

of the word at hand through the use of other signs or words

- a statement which explains what a thing is

Importance of Definition

1. It increases vocabulary2. It eliminates ambiguity3. It clarifies meaning 4. It explains theoretically5. It facilitates argumentation

Elements of a Definition

• 1. Definiendum – refers to the thing or expression to be defined

• 2. Definiens- refers to the defining expression

Philosophy came from two Greek words philos and sophia.

Rules of a Good Definition

• The definition must be clearer than the things defined

• The definition must not contain the idea or term to be defined

• It must not be circular• The definition must be convertible with the idea

defined • The definition should whenever possible be

expressed in positive terms

Types of Definition

• 1. Nominal Definition – expresses what a name means not what the thing is.

• Etymological Definition – definition derived from the meaning of the original word or words from which the definiendum is defined.

Types of Definition

• Synonymous Definition – gives the same connotation of the term

• Definition by Description • Definition by Example• Definition by Illustration• Ostensive – definition by simple identification

Types of Definition

• 2. Real Definition – definition that explains the essential properties of the object represented by the definiendum

• Essential Definition – definition by genus and specific difference

Types of Definition

• Definition by genus – that which makes a thing similar to others

• Definition by specific difference – that which makes a thing different from the others

A square is a polygon with four equal sides.

Types of Definition

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Simple Apprehension