Part 3 (1/2)

-- 82. A Quality is an attribute which does not require more than one substance for its existence. The attributes just mentioned are qualities. There might be greenness, hardness, and weight, if there were only one green, hard and heavy substance in the universe.

-- 83. A Relation is an attribute which requires two or more substances for its existence, e.g. nearness, fatherhood, introduction.

-- 84. When we say that a substance can be conceived to exist by itself, what is meant is that it can be conceived to exist independently of other substances. We do not mean that substances can be conceived to exist independently of attributes, nor yet out of relation to a mind perceiving them. Substances, so far as we can know them, are only collections of attributes. When therefore we say that substances can be conceived to exist by themselves, whereas attributes are dependent for their existence upon substances, the real meaning of the a.s.sertion reduces itself to this, that it is only certain collections of attributes which can be conceived to exist independently; whereas single attributes depend for their existence upon others. The colour, smoothness or solidity of a table cannot be conceived apart from the extension, whereas the whole cl.u.s.ter of attributes which const.i.tutes the table can be conceived to exist altogether independently of other 'such cl.u.s.ters. We can imagine a table to exist, if the whole material universe were annihilated, and but one mind left to perceive it. Apart from mind, however, we cannot imagine it: since what we call the attributes of a material substance are no more than the various modes in which we find our minds affected.

-- 85. The above division of things belongs rather to the domain of metaphysics than of logic: but it is the indispensable basis of the division of terms, to which we now proceed.

CHAPTER III.

_Of the Division of Terms._

-- 86. The following scheme presents to the eye the chief divisions of terms.

Term Division of terms according to their place in thought.

Subject-Term Attributive

according to the kind of thing signified.

Abstract Concrete

according to Quant.i.ty in Extension.

Singular Common

according to Quality.

Positive Privative Negative

according to number of meanings.

Univocal Equivocal

according to number of things involved in the name.

Absolute Relative

according to number of quant.i.ties.

Connotative Non-connotative

_Subject-term and Attributive._

-- 87. By a Subject-term is meant any term which is capable of standing by itself as a subject, e.g. 'ribbon,' 'horse.'

-- 88. Attributives can only be used as predicates, not as subjects, e.g. 'cherry-coloured,' 'galloping.' These can only be used in conjunction with other words (syncategorematically) to make up a subject. Thus we can say 'A cherry-coloured ribbon is becoming,' or 'A galloping horse is dangerous.'

-- 89. Attributives are contrivances of language whereby we indicate that a subject has a certain attribute. Thus, when we say 'This paper is white,' we indicate that the subject 'paper' possesses the attribute whiteness. Logic, however, also recognises as attributives terms which signify the non-possession of attributes. 'Not-white' is an attributive equally with 'white.'