THE MIND AND KNOWLEDGE. 5 



different characteristics which particularize it in the individuals, John, James, 

 Thomas, etc. Furthermore, we use this abstract and universal idea, man, for 

 the purpose of interpreting for ourselves, or giving a meaning to, the indivi 

 dual objects John, James, Thomas, etc., which come under the notice of our 

 senses: by thinking to ourselves, &quot;John is a man&quot; &quot;James is a man,&quot; 

 &quot; Thomas is a man&quot; etc. The same is true of all our abstract and universal 

 ideas. It is by means of these latter that we interpret or know intellectually 

 the nature and the meaning of the Real World of Reality itself as this latter 

 is revealed to us through our senses. This interpretation involves another 

 exercise of thought the second act of the mind in logic the judgment. 



The first act conception by which we form abstract and universal 

 concepts of individual sense objects, has many modalities which have secured 

 for it many different names. For example, when the mind considers one ob 

 ject independently of the surrounding objects it is said to pay attention to this 

 object. This attention may be brought to bear either upon one single attri 

 bute of an object, independently of the other qualities with which that attribute 

 is united ; or upon all the attributes which constitute the common, specific or 

 class nature of the object, apart from the characteristics that individualize that 

 nature in the actually existing world : those mental acts are called acts of 

 abstraction. Abstraction is the basis of generalization, as explained above ; 

 moreover it effects a mental process which we call analysis, i.e. a taking 

 asunder or decomposing of the elements or attributes of a known object. 

 Furthermore, when the mind once again reunites the attributes thus previously 

 isolated, it carries on a work of synthesis. But in these activities judgment 

 is involved as well as conception (9). 



3. JUDGMENT OR INTERPRETATION : INFERENCE OR REASON 

 ING. -Not only, therefore, do we form abstract and universal 

 concepts or notions, by means of which we understand more or 

 less fully what the things are which come under the notice of our 

 senses. We also interpret the individual objects revealed to our 

 senses by affirming or denying the contents of those abstract and 

 universal ideas about those things. I see an object in the distance. 

 I proceed to think to myself about it thus : &quot;That is something ; 

 it is a material thing or being of some sort ; it is not a pillar, nor 

 a tree ; it is moving ; it is an animal of some sort ; it is a horse &quot;. 

 All these mental affirmations and denials are thoughts of another 

 sort, thoughts by which we compare objects we have already con 

 ceived, by which we apprehend a relation of agreement or dis 

 agreement between things already perceived and conceived, and 

 thus get a fuller insight into what the things are about which we 

 are thinking. This act of comparison is called judgment. By 

 means of it we interpret the individual things revealed to our senses 

 by affirming or denying about these things the objects we have 

 already conceived in the abstract when forming our universal ideas 



