78 PSYCHOLOGY. 



single idea, whether simple or complex ; as a man, a good library. 

 An idea, we can only define as an object or subject of thought. The 

 act of the mind, by which the idea is present, or presented, is called 

 Conception; or, by Dr. Whately, Simple-apprehension. Terms, 

 being words, are arbitrary signs of ideas, and hence liable to be 

 indistinct. The first great step in reasoning, therefore, is to have 

 distinct and exact ideas, corresponding to the terms which we employ 

 ourselves, or receive from others. 



A simple term, as understood by logicians, consists of one or 

 more words conveying a simple idea ; as, the book : but a complex 

 term, is one which expresses a complex idea ; as, that good, old 

 man. An absolute term, is one which has no necessary relation, or 

 reference, to any other : but a relative term, implies some relation, 

 or has some reference ; as father, and son ; which may be called 

 correlative terms. An abstract term, expresses merely a quality or 

 contingent; as roundness, whiteness: but a. concrete term, also 

 expresses substance ; as, a man ; a book. A singular, or monental 

 term, expresses but one object ; as George Washington : but a com- 

 mon, or universal term, expresses a whole class, genus, or species 

 of objects ; as man, tree. A term expressing a class of objects, 

 may comprehend several genera ; and one expressing a genus, 

 may include many species ; each of which may include several 

 varieties ; and each of these may comprehend numerous individuals. 



Privative, or negative terms, are such as express the want of a 

 quality, or absence of an object: as dumbness, nonentity. Com,' 

 patible terms, are such as express qualities, contingents, or relations, 

 that are consistent, or may exist together. Univocal terms, are 

 those which have always one and the same meaning ; while equivo- 

 cal, or ambiguous terms, have more significations than one. Analo- 

 gous terms are such as have similar meanings ; and synonymous 

 terms are such as have the same meaning; as omnipotent and 

 almighty; omniscient, and all-knowing. Definitions of terms, are 

 real, when they describe the object, or its properties; but nominal, 

 when they explain the term merely by using its synonyms : as 

 when a billow is defined to be a wave. A universal term is said to 

 be distributed, when applied in its widest sense, to include every 

 individual which it comprehends. 



2. A Proposition, is an expression in which something is predi- 

 cated, that is affirmed or denied ; as, John is good ; horses can run. 

 It is the result of a Comparison, or Judgment, expressed in words ; 

 and it necessarily consists of two terms, expressed or implied, one 

 of which is called the subject and the other the predicate; these 

 being united by a copula, which is often some form of the verb to 

 be. In the first example above given, Jo hn is the subject; good, 

 the predicate ; and is, is the copula. The second example above, is 

 irregular, but signifies, horses are capable of running; in which 

 form, capable of running is the predicate. In a simple proposition, 

 the subject and predicate are both simple terms; but in a complex 

 proposition they are one or both complex. Categorical propositions 

 express the result absolutely ; but hypothetical propositions express 

 it conditionally, or with restrictions ; as, John is good, if he is tern- 



