THREE MENTAL

OPERATIONS OF THE
MIND
Exploring the epistemic
foundations of the science of
correct reasoning
THREE MENTAL OPERATIONS (ACTS)
OF THE MIND

Mental Mental Expressions Logical Issues

Operations Products (External
Signs)
Apprehension Idea Term Predicability
Judgment Enunciation Proposition Predication
Reasoning Argument Syllogism Inference
THE ACTS OF THE MIND
THREE MENTAL OPERATIONS (ACTS)
OF THE MIND

Mental Mental Expressions Logical Issues

Operations Products (External
Signs)
Apprehension Idea Term Predicability
Judgment Enunciation Proposition Predication
Reasoning Argument Syllogism Inference
1st ACT: SIMPLE APPREHENSION

A procedure where the mind grasps a thing

without affirming or denying it.

EXTERNAL QUALITIES
SENSE EXPERIENCE
INTERNAL
 IDEOGENESIS: THE BIRTH OF AN IDEA
 IDEA – INTERNAL PRODUCT
 TERM – EXPRESSED MENTAL PRODUCT
THING: OBJECT
IN REALITY
ABSTRACTION
Quality 1 EXTERNAL
Quality 2 AND TERM
IDEA
INTERNAL
Quality 3
SENSE
STRIPPING OFF ACCIDENTS TO ARRIVE AT BEING
- PHYSICAL, MATHEMATICAL, METAPHYSICAL
 IDEA & TERM
 IDEA: FORMAL SIGN – INTELLECTUAL IMAGE OF AN
ESSENCE; THE BUILDING BLOCK OF KNOWLEDGE

THING: OBJECT IN
REALITY IDEA FLOWER
FLOWER
DAHLIA

DAHLIA
TERM
 TERM: MATERIAL SIGN -
WORD, SENSIBLE
CONVENTIONAL SIGN
THREE MENTAL OPERATIONS (ACTS)
OF THE MIND

Mental Mental Expressions Logical Issues

Operations Products (External
Signs)
Apprehension Idea Term Predicability
Judgment Enunciation Proposition Predication
Reasoning Argument Syllogism Inference
2nd ACT: JUDGMENT

 The act of the mind where two apprehended

terms are joined then affirmed or denied.

SPOKEN/WRITTEN
IDENTITY NON-IDENTITY
A DAHLIA IS A A DAHLIA IS NOT A
FLOWER FLOWER
 MENTAL SENTENCE AND
PROPOSITION
 MENTAL SENTENCE (ENUNCIATION): THE INTERNAL
PRODUCT OF JUDGMENT.
ENUNCIATION THE DAHLIA
THING: OBJECT IN IS A
THE FLOWER
REALITY
DAHLIA IS
A FLOWER THE
DAHLIA IS
THE DAHLIA IS NOT A
A NOT A FLOWER
FLOWER
PROPOSITION

 PROPOSITION IS THE EXTERNAL

PRODUCT OF A MENTAL
STATEMENT, A PLAUSIBLE
THREE MENTAL OPERATIONS (ACTS)
OF THE MIND

Mental Mental Expressions Logical Issues

Operations Products (External
Signs)
Apprehension Idea Term Predicability
Judgment Enunciation Proposition Predication
Reasoning Argument Syllogism Inference
3RD ACT: REASONING

 Theact of the mind where we draw a conclusion from

a given set of validly drawn premises (propositions)

The mind proceeds to certain

knowledge by way of inference.
 ARGUMENT AND SYLLOGISM

ALL
 ARGUMENT: group of
THING: OBJECT IN
FLOWERS statements that is
ARE
REALITY PRETTY. claimed to provide
THE DAHLIA IS
A FLOWER.
support one of the
others.
ERGO, ALL
DAHLIAS ARE
PRETTY.
 ARGUMENT AND SYLLOGISM
 SYLLOGISM: expressed
ALL product.
FLOWERS
ARE  Premises: statements
THING: OBJECT IN PRETTY. THE DAHLIA setting forth
REALITY IS A
FLOWER. reason/evidence.
 Conclusion: statement
ERGO, ALL that the evidence is
DAHLIAS
ARE PRETTY. claimed to support or
imply.
A, B, C IDEAS

A is B PROPOSITION
A is B. SYLLOGISM
C is A.
Therefore, C is B.
 1st Act 2nd Act 3rd Act
Name Simple Apprehension Judgment Reasoning
Mental Product Idea Enunciation Argument
Linguistic Expression Term Declarative Sentence Syllogism

Structural Parts None, Unitary Subject & Predicate Premises, Conclusion

Term
Examples “Man” “Mortal” Socrates is a man. All men are mortal.
Socrates is a man.
Therefore, Socrates is
mortal.
Question Answered What it is Whether it is Why it is
Aspect of Reality Essence Existence Cause
Good when Clear True Valid
How to Achieve Definition of Terms No one way Rules of Logic
Bad when Unclear False Invalid, Fallacious
Question to Habitually What do you mean? What is your point? Why? (Prove it)
Ask (State your conclusion)