The principles of science : $b a treatise on logic and scientific methodJevons, William Stanley
Philosophy
The principles of science : $b a treatise on logic and scientific method
Jevons, William Stanley
Logic; Science -- Methodology
I propose to call any such series of combinations the *Logical
Alphabet*. It holds in logical science a position the importance
of which cannot be exaggerated, and as we proceed from logical to
mathematical considerations, it will become apparent that there is
a close connection between these combinations and the fundamental
theorems of mathematical science. For the convenience of the reader
who may wish to employ the *Alphabet* in logical questions, I have
had printed on the next page a complete series of the combinations up
to those of six terms. At the very commencement, in the first column,
is placed a single letter X, which might seem to be superfluous. This
letter serves to denote that it is always some higher class which is
divided up. Thus the combination AB really means ABX, or that part of
some larger class, say X, which has the qualities of A and B present.
The letter X is omitted in the greater part of the table merely for
the sake of brevity and clearness. In a later chapter on Combinations
it will become apparent that the introduction of this unit class is
requisite in order to complete the analogy with the Arithmetical
Triangle there described.
The reader ought to bear in mind that though the Logical Alphabet seems
to give mere lists of combinations, these combinations are intended in
every case to constitute the development of a term of a proposition.
Thus the four combinations AB, A*b*, *a*B, *ab* really mean that any
class X is described by the following proposition,
X = XAB ꖌ XA*b* ꖌ X*a*B ꖌ X*ab*.
If we select the A’s, we obtain the following proposition
AX = XAB ꖌ XA*b*.
Thus whatever group of combinations we treat must be conceived as part
of a higher class, *summum genus* or universe symbolised in the term
X; but, bearing this in mind, it is needless to complicate our formulæ
by always introducing the letter. All inference consists in passing
from propositions to propositions, and combinations *per se* have no
meaning. They are consequently to be regarded in all cases as forming
parts of propositions.
THE LOGICAL ALPHABET.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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