On IDEAS and TERMS

OUTLINE
• Definition and Nature of Idea
• Idea and Phantasm
• Major difference between Idea
and Phantasm
• Distinction between Terms and
Words
• Term: Its Definition
• Properties of Terms
On IDEAS and TERMS

OUTLINE
• Inverse Relationship between
Comprehension and Extension
• Classifications of Terms
• Supposition of Terms
 KEYWORDS
• Idea/s • Universal
• Phantasm • Equivocal
• Abstraction • Analogous
• Word/s • Supposition
• Term/s, Terminus • Logical
• Comprehension • Proposition
• Extension
• Particular
 On IDEAS and TERMS
Definition and Nature of Idea
 Ideas are the starting point
of any Human Knowledge
 and Ideas are the elements
that constitute Logical
Judgment
 On IDEAS and TERMS

Definition and Nature of Idea

 Ideas are intellectual representation (or

mental images) of some objects
 better known as the “Essence” or
“Whatness” of a thing
 On IDEAS and TERMS
Definition and Nature of Idea
 Ideas as mental content that only exists in
the Mind
 though they are not forever locked up in
the Mind
 and for them to be Understood they have
to be Expressed
 On IDEAS and TERMS

Definition and Nature of Idea

 IDEAS are expressed in WRITING or in
SPEECH by using WORDS
 these WORDS are instrument (so called
“organon” according to Aristotle) in
expressing IDEAS, which are designated as
TERM or TERMS
 On IDEAS and TERMS

How IDEAS are formed?

 in the formation of IDEAS - Three (3) Elements are
required:

1. the Knower
2. the Act of Knowing and
3. the Object Known (or the Object of
Knowledge)
 On IDEAS and TERMS

How IDEAS are formed?

 also there are Two (2) Faculties of Man that
are needed in the formation of IDEAS:
1. the SENSES (Sight, Hearing, Smell,
Taste, Touch) and
2. the INTELLECT (Brain or Mind in
Psychology)
 On IDEAS and TERMS
How IDEAS are formed?
 the process happens through:
1. Phantasm and
2. Abstraction
 Phantasm comes first before
Abstraction
 On IDEAS and TERMS
How IDEAS are formed?
1. on Phantasm
 PHANTASM, the first process, works
(through the SENSES) by duplicating (or
reproducing) concrete images of Object to
the IMAGINATION
 the SENSES collects ALL the necessary
ATTRIBUTES of the Object to be Known
(understood)
 On IDEAS and TERMS
How IDEAS are formed?
2. on Abstraction
 and these ATTRIBUTES or characteristics
are TRANSMITTED by the SENSES to the
INTELLECT for processing
 this process is known as ABSTRACTION
 ABSTRACTION is the LAST stage of the
formation of IDEAS
 On IDEAS and TERMS
How IDEAS are formed?
 the function of ABSTRACTION is to STRIP
or ELIMINATE the non-essential
ATTRIBUTES or CHARACTERISTICS of
the Object being KNOWN for IDEAS to be
formed
 On IDEAS and TERMS
Idea and Phantasm
 IDEA, however, is distinct from
PHANTASM
 while PHANTASM is a SENSIBLE
image of THINGS, it can only be found
in the IMAGINATION
 On IDEAS and TERMS
Idea and Phantasm
 PHANTASM usually accompanies an
IDEA
 this is because IDEA, by its
ESSENCE, is the very MEANING of
PHANTASM
On IDEAS and TERMS
Major difference between IDEA and PHANTASM
IDEA PHANTASM
1. Found in the MIND 1. Found in the IMAGINATION

2. UNIVERSAL 2. INDIVIDUAL (Particular)

3. CONSTANT 3. CHANGEABLE

4. Possible of COMPLEX 4. NOT Possible of COMPLEX

and IMMATERIAL and IMMATERIAL Things
Things
On IDEAS and TERMS
TERM: Its Definition
 based on its Etymological definition:
• TERM is derived from the LATIN
word “terminus” which means
the LAST ELEMENT to which
a PROPOSITION may be
RESOLVED, namely the
SPOKEN word or the WRITTEN
word
 On IDEAS and TERMS

Term: Its Definition

 a TERM is defined as a “WORD” or
a “Group of WORDS” that
CONVENTIONALLY signifies an
IDEA or CONCEPT
 On IDEAS and TERMS

Distinction between Terms and Words

 not every WORD is a TERM
 though a TERM is expressive of an
IDEA, WORD may not have the same
case
 On IDEAS and TERMS

Distinction between Terms and Words

 there are WORDS like the articles and
conjunctions (a, an, the, of, and in), which do
NOT REPRESENT any IDEA
 these WORDS are called SYNCATEGOREMATIC
or INSIGNIFICANT Words
 On IDEAS and TERMS
Distinction between Terms and Words

they are OPPOSED to



CATEGOREMATIC or SIGNIFICANT
WORDS because these WORDS represent
definite IDEA or MEANING
 On IDEAS and TERMS
PROPERTIES of TERMS
• there are TWO (2) Properties of a TERM :
Comprehension and Extension
1. Comprehension
 refers to the SUM-TOTAL of ALL INTELLIGIBLE
elements SIGNIFIED by the TERM
 or simply the REAL definition of the TERM
 refers to the TERMS’ IMPLICATION or
CONNOTATION
 
 On IDEAS and TERMS
PROPERTIES of TERMS
2. Extension
 refers to the SUM-TOTAL of ALL subjects that are
COVERED by the TERM itself in its DEFINITION
 better known as the TERMS’ APPLICATION or
DENOTATION
Example:
The TERMS Toyota Vios and Car, the former has more
COMPREHENSION while (the term Car) the latter has
more EXTENSION
 On IDEAS and TERMS
The INVERSE Relationship between Comprehension and
Extension
• “The Greater the COMPREHENSION the Less is
the EXTENSION, and VICE-VERSA”

Example Comprehension Extension

ASIAN someone who lives in Asia Filipino
Japanese
Chinese, others..
 On IDEAS and TERMS
Inverse Relationship between Comprehension and
Extension
• “The Greater the COMPREHENSION the Less is
the EXTENSION, and VICE-VERSA”

Example Comprehension Extension

FILIPINO someone who lives in Waray-waray
the Philippines Cebuano
Ilongo, others..
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
• TERMS can be CLASSIFIED into:
1. According to ABSOLUTE EXTENSION
2. According to FUNCTIONAL EXTENSION
3. According to COMPREHENSION
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
1. According to Absolute Extension
 this refers to the range of subjects of a term

2. According to Functional Extension

 this is the use of a term in an argument as:

2.1. Singular

2.2. Particular

2.3. Universal

2.4. Collective
 
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
2. According to Functional Extension
2.1. Singular
• this is a term that is definitely designated as
an INDIVIDUAL
• Example: Makati City, Juan De la Cruz
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
2. According to Functional Extension
2.2. Particular
• a term is particular if its function is
INDETERMINATE
Example: an apple, a man, some students
 
 On IDEAS and TERMS

CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
2. According to Functional Extension
2.3. Universal
• a term that refers to ALL INDIVIDUALS
signified by the TERM
• Example: All, Each, and Every  
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
2. According to Functional Extension
2.4. Collective
• a term that applies to ALL MEMBERS
of a CLASS taken TOGETHER, but not
to the individual members taken
SINGLY
• Example: class, team, and family
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
3. According to Comprehension
• Terms may be classified into:
3.1. Univocal
3.2. Equivocal
3.3. Analogous
 On IDEAS and TERMS

CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
3. According to Comprehension
3.1. Univocal
• is a term used in exactly the SAME sense
• Example: Circle – a sphere and a figure
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
3. According to Comprehension
3.2. Equivocal
• it is a term used in a totally different senses
• a term may be equivocal by these situations:
a. in Writing and in Speech
b. in Writing but not in Speech
c. in Speech but not in Writing
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
3. According to Comprehension
3.2. Equivocal
a. in Writing and in Speech
• when a term has the same pronunciation and
the same spelling
• Example: Pitcher taken as player and Pitcher
as a container;
Ruler as a leader and Ruler as a
measuring standard
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
3. According to Comprehension
3.2. Equivocal
b. in Writing but not in Speech
• when a term has the same Spelling but
different pronunciation
• Example: desert (dry land) and desert
(to abandon)
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
3. According to Comprehension
3.2. Equivocal
c. in Speech but not in Writing
• when a term has the same Pronunciation but
different in Spelling
• Example: meet and meat; rot and rat
 On IDEAS and TERMS
CLASSIFICATIONS of TERMS
3. According to Comprehension
3.3. Analogous
• a term is used in Partly the same and Partly
different senses
Example: head as head of the family and head
as head of the body
 On IDEAS and TERMS

SUPPOSITION of TERMS
• the supposition of a term refers to the use of
a term for the thing which it signifies
• the supposition of a term can be Formal or
Material
 On IDEAS and TERMS

SUPPOSITION of TERMS
Formal Supposition

• when the supposition of a term considers already

the inherent meaning of the term itself through
its signification
Example:
• An ASSET is a [form of] resource with
economic value
 On IDEAS and TERMS

SUPPOSITION of TERMS
Material Supposition

• when the supposition of a term merely considers

it as a word without taking into account its
inherent meaning
Example:
• An ASSET is five (5)-letter word
 On IDEAS and TERMS
SUPPOSITION of TERMS
The FORMAL SUPPOSITION of a term may be Real
or Logical

Real Supposition
• when the term is used for a thing in its natural being
or existence
Example:
• Business as an Occupation or Profession
 On IDEAS and TERMS
SUPPOSITION of TERMS
The FORMAL SUPPOSITION of a term may be either
Real or Logical

Logical Supposition
• when a term is used according to its logical
existence in the mind’s operations
Examples: The middle term must exist only in the
premises but not in the conclusion
Money is tangible form of asset
 On IDEAS and TERMS
SUPPOSITION of TERMS
The REAL SUPPOSITION may be Absolute or Personal

Absolute Supposition
• when a term is used to designate merely the nature as
such without reference into the individual subjects of
the term
Examples: Every being has a Sufficient Reason
Peso is a form of currency
Inflation is an economic situation
Trading is a form of exchange
 On IDEAS and TERMS
SUPPOSITION of TERMS
The REAL SUPPOSITION may be Absolute or
Personal
Personal Supposition
• when the term signifies the nature and individual
subjects of this common nature
Example: Every Leader must be Responsible
A market is a venue of trading
 On IDEAS and TERMS
SUPPOSITION of TERMS
The PERSONAL SUPPOSITION of a term is again
subdivided into distributive and collective supposition
Distributive Supposition
• when the term is used for all the individuals
taken singly and together
Example:
• All forms of corporation are subject to state rules
and regulations
• Every price has currency value
 On IDEAS and TERMS
SUPPOSITION of TERMS
The PERSONAL SUPPOSITION of a term is again
subdivided into a distributive and collective supposition
Collective Supposition
• when the term is used for all the individuals taken
singly, yet not taken together
• Example: Every Price is a Determinant of Demand
end