_A categorical proposition_ is one in which the assertion is made unconditionally. _An hypothetical proposition_ is one in which the assertion depends upon a condition. _A disjunctive proposition_ is one which asserts an alternative. THE THREE KINDS ILLUSTRATED: (1) “Every dog has his day.” Categorical. (2) “If you do your best, success will reward you.” Hypothetical. (3) “He is either stupid or indolent.” Disjunctive. (4) “All vices are reprehensible.” Categorical. (5) “Either you are very talented or very industrious.” Disjunctive. (6) “If capital punishment does not aid society, it should be abolished.” Hypothetical. (7) “You may go provided your teacher is willing.” Hypothetical. (8) “No intelligent man can ignore the practice of temperance.” Categorical. By studying the illustrations it will be observed that the categorical propositions are direct, bold, assertive statements, whereas the hypothetical are limited by conditions which make them less forceful. In the second proposition, for example, “success will reward you,” is limited by the condition, “If you do your best.” The disjunctive may be regarded as categorical in form, but hypothetical in meaning, because in such a proposition as, “He is either, stupid or indolent,” a direct assertion is made which suggests the categorical, and yet it may be implied that, if he is stupid then he is not indolent; this is indicative of the hypothetical. Some logicians classify propositions as categorical and conditional, the conditional being subdivided into hypothetical and disjunctive. The first classification seems preferable, however, as it conforms to the three modes of reasoning. The common word-signs of the categorical proposition are _all_, _every_, _each_, _any_, _no_ and _some_, while those of the hypothetical are _if_, _even if_, _unless_, _although_, _though_, _provided that_, _when_, or any word or group of words denoting a condition. The disjunctive symbols are _either――or_. =3. THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF A CATEGORICAL PROPOSITION.= Every categorical proposition should have four elements; namely, the quantity sign, the logical subject, the copula and the logical predicate. In the foregoing categorical propositions the quantity signs are respectively, _every_, _all_ and _no_. In any case the quantity sign is always attached to the subject and indicates its breadth or extension. For example, in the two propositions, “All men are mortal” and “Some men are wise,” the quantity sign _all_ makes the term _man_ much broader than does the quantity sign _some_.