Part 3 (1/2)
CHAPTER VIII.
JUDGMENTS
The first step in the process of reasoning is that of Conception or the forming of Concepts. The second step is that of Judgment, or the process of perceiving the agreement or disagreement of two conceptions.
_Judgment_ in Logic is defined as: ”The comparing together in the mind of two notions, concepts or ideas, which are the objects of apprehension, whether complex or incomplex, and p.r.o.nouncing that they agree or disagree with each other, or that one of them belongs or does not belong to the other. Judgment is therefore affirmative or negative.”
When we have in our mind two concepts, we are likely to compare them one with the other, and to thus arrive at a conclusion regarding their agreement or disagreement. This process of comparison and decision is what, in Logic, is called _Judgment_.
In every act of Judgment there must be at least two concepts to be examined and compared. This comparison must lead to a Judgment regarding their agreement or disagreement. For instance, we have the two concepts, _horse_ and _animal_. We examine and compare the two concepts, and find that there is an agreement between them. We find that the concept _horse_ is included in the higher concept of _animal_ and therefore, we a.s.sert that: ”_The horse is an animal._” This is a statement of _agreement_ and is, therefore, a _Positive Judgment_. We then compare the concepts _horse_ and _cow_ and find a disagreement between them, which we express in the statement of the Judgment that: ”_The horse is not a cow._” This Judgment, stating a disagreement is what is called a _Negative Judgment_.
In the above ill.u.s.tration of the comparison between the concepts _horse_ and _animal_ we find that the second concept _animal_ is broader than the first, _horse_, so broad in fact that it includes the latter. The terms are not equal, for we cannot say, in truth, that ”an animal is the horse.” We may, however, include a _part_ of the broader conception with the narrower and say: ”some animals are horses.” Sometimes both concepts are of equal rank, as when we state that: ”Man is a rational animal.”
In the process of Judgment there is always the necessity of the choice between the Positive and the Negative. When we compare the concepts _horse_ and _animal_, we must of necessity decide either that the horse _is_ an animal, or else that it is _not_ an animal.
The importance of the process of Judgment is ably stated by Halleck, as follows: ”Were isolated concepts possible, they would be of very little use. Isolated facts are of no more service than unspun wool. We might have a concept of a certain cla.s.s of three-leaved ivy, as we might also of poisons. Unless judgment linked these two concepts and decided that this species of ivy is poisonous, we might take hold of it and be poisoned. We might have a concept of bread and also one of meat, fruit and vegetables. If we also had a concept of food, unrelated to these, we should starve to death, for we should not think of them as foods. A vessel, supposing itself to be far out at sea, signaled another vessel that the crew were dying of thirst. That crew certainly had a concept of drinkable things and also of water. To the surprise of the first, the second vessel signaled back, 'Draw from the sea and drink. You are at the mouth of the Amazon.' The thirsty crew had not joined the concept _drinkable_ to the concept of water over the s.h.i.+p's side. A man having taken an overdose of laudanum, his wife lost much valuable time in sending out for antidotes, because certain of her concepts had not been connected by judgment. She had good concepts of coffee and of mustard; she also knew that an antidote to opium was needed; but she had never linked these concepts and judged that coffee and mustard were antidotes to opium. The moment she formed that judgment she was a wiser woman for her knowledge was related and usable.... Judgment is the power revolutionizing the world. The revolution is slow because nature's forces are so complex, so hard to be reduced to their simplest forms and so disguised and neutralized by the presence of other forces....
Fortunately judgment is ever silently working and comparing things that, to past ages, have seemed dissimilar; and it is continually abstracting and leaving out of the field of view those qualities which have simply served to obscure the point at issue.”
Judgment may be both a.n.a.lytic or synthetic in its processes; and it may be neither. When we compare a narrow concept with a broader one, as a part with a whole, the process is synthetic or an act of combination.
When we compare a part of a concept with another concept, the process is a.n.a.lytic. When we compare concepts equal in rank or extent, the process is neither synthetic nor a.n.a.lytic. Thus in the statement that: ”A horse is an animal,” the judgment is synthetic; in the statement that: ”some animals are horses,” the judgement is a.n.a.lytic; in the statement that: ”a man is a rational animal,” the judgment is neither a.n.a.lytic nor synthetic.
Brooks says: ”In one sense all judgments are synthetic. A judgment consists of the union of two ideas and this uniting is a process of synthesis. This, however, is a superficial view of the process. Such a synthesis is a mere mechanical synthesis; below this is a thought-process which is sometimes a.n.a.lytic, sometimes synthetic and sometimes neither a.n.a.lytic nor synthetic.”
The same authority states: ”The act of mind described is what is known as _logical judgment_. Strictly speaking, however, every intelligent act of the mind is accompanied with a _judgment_. To know is to discriminate and, therefore, to judge. Every sensation or cognition involves a knowledge and so a judgment that it exists. The mind cannot think at all without judging; to think is to judge. _Even in forming the notions which judgment compares, the mind judges._ Every notion or concept implies a previous act of judgment to form it: in forming a concept, we compare the common attributes before we unite them; and comparison is judgment. It is thus true that 'Every concept is a contracted judgment; every judgment an expanded concept.' This kind of judgment, by which we affirm the existence of states of consciousness, discriminate qualities, distinguish percepts and form concepts, is called _primitive or psychological judgment_.”
In Logical Judgment there are two aspects; _i.e._, Judgment by Extension and Judgment by Intension. When we compare the two concepts _horse_ and _animal_ we find that the concept _horse_ is contained in the concept _animal_ and the judgment that ”_a horse is an animal_” may be considered as a Judgment by Extension. In the same comparison we see that the concept _horse_ contains the _quality of animality_, and in attributing this quality to the _horse_, we may also say ”_the horse is an animal_,” which judgment may be considered as a Judgment by Intension. Brooks says: ”Both views of Judgment are correct; the mind may reach its judgment either by extension or by intension. The method by extension is usually the more natural.”
When a Judgment is expressed in words it is called a Proposition. There is some confusion regarding the two terms, some holding that a Judgment and a proposition are identical, and that the term ”proposition” may be properly used to indicate the judgment itself. But the authorities who seek for clearness of expression and thought now generally hold that: ”_A Proposition is a Judgment expressed in words._” In the next chapter, in which we consider Propositions, we shall enter into a more extended consideration of the subject of Judgments as expressed in Propositions, which consideration we omit at this point in order to avoid repet.i.tion.
Just as the respective subjects of Concepts and Terms necessarily blend into each other, so do the respective subjects of Judgments and Propositions. In each case, too, there is the element of the mental process on the one hand and the verbal expression of it on the other hand. It will be well to keep this fact in mind.
CHAPTER IX.
PROPOSITIONS
We have seen that the first step of Deductive Reasoning is that which we call Concepts. The second step is that which we call Propositions.
In Logic, a _Proposition_ is: ”A sentence, or part of a sentence, affirming or denying a connection between the terms; limited to express a.s.sertions rather than extended to questions and commands.” Hyslop defines a Proposition as: ”any affirmation or denial of an agreement between two conceptions.”
_Examples of Propositions_ are found in the following sentences: ”The rose is a flower;” ”a horse is an animal;” ”Chicago is a city;” all of which are affirmations of agreement between the two terms involved; also in: ”A horse is not a zebra;” ”pinks are not roses;” ”the whale is not a fish;” etc., which are denials of agreement between the terms.
The _Parts of a Proposition_ are: (1) the _Subject_, or that of which something is affirmed or denied; (2) the _Predicate_, or _the something_ which is affirmed or denied regarding the _Subject_; and (3) the _Copula_, or the verb serving as a link between the Subject and the Predicate.
In the Proposition: ”Man is an animal,” the term _man_ is the Subject; the term _an animal_ is the Predicate; and the word _is_, is the Copula.
The Copula is always some form of the verb _to be_, in the present tense indicative, in an affirmative Proposition; and the same with the negative particle affixed, in a negative Proposition. The Copula is not always directly expressed by the word _is_ or _is not_, etc., but is instead expressed in some phrase which implies them. For instance, we say ”he runs,” which implies ”he is running.” In the same way, it may appear at times as if the Predicate was missing, as in: ”G.o.d is,” by which is meant ”G.o.d is existing.” In some cases, the Proposition is inverted, the Predicate appearing first in order, and the Subject last, as in: ”Blessed are the peacemakers;” or ”Strong is Truth.” In such cases judgment must be used in determining the matter, in accordance with the character and meaning of the terms.
An _Affirmative Proposition_ is one in which the Predicate is _affirmed_ to agree with the Subject. A _Negative Proposition_ is one in which the agreement of the Predicate and Subject is _denied_. Examples of both of these cla.s.ses have been given in this chapter.