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
Since AAA is by the Law of Simplicity equivalent to A, so *a* ꖌ *a* ꖌ
*a* must be equivalent to *a*, and the Law of Unity holds true. Each
law thus necessarily presupposes the other.
*Symbolic expression of the Law of Duality.*
We may now employ our symbol of alternation to express in a clear and
formal manner the third Fundamental Law of Thought, which I have called
the Law of Duality (p. 6). Taking A to represent any class or object
or quality, and B any other class, object or quality, we may always
assert that A either agrees with B, or does not agree. Thus we may say
A = AB ꖌ A*b*.
This is a formula which will henceforth be constantly employed, and it
lies at the basis of reasoning.
The reader may perhaps wish to know why A is inserted in both
alternatives of the second member of the identity, and why the law is
not stated in the form
A = B ꖌ *b*.
But if he will consider the contents of the last section (p. 73), he
will see that the latter expression cannot be correct, otherwise no
term could have a corresponding negative term. For the negative of B
ꖌ *b* is *b*B, or a self-contradictory term; thus if A were identical
with B ꖌ *b*, its negative *a* would be non-existent. To say the least,
this result would in most cases be an absurd one, and I see much reason
to think that in a strictly logical point of view it would always be
absurd. In all probability we ought to assume as a fundamental logical
axiom that *every term has its negative in thought*. We cannot think at
all without separating what we think about from other things, and these
things necessarily form the negative notion.[69] It follows that any
proposition of the form A = B ꖌ *b* is just as self-contradictory as
one of the form A = B*b*.
[69] *Pure Logic*, p. 65. See also the criticism of this point by De
Morgan in the *Athenæum*, No. 1892, 30th January, 1864; p. 155.
It is convenient to recapitulate in this place the three Laws of
Thought in their symbolic form, thus
Law of Identity A = A.
Law of Contradiction A*a* = 0.
Law of Duality A = AB ꖌ A*b*.
*Various Forms of the Disjunctive Proposition.*
Disjunctive propositions may occur in a great variety of forms, of
which the old logicians took insufficient notice. There may be any
number of alternatives, each of which may be a combination of any
number of simple terms. A proposition, again, may be disjunctive in one
or both members. The proposition
Solids or liquids or gases are electrics or conductors of electricity
is an example of the doubly disjunctive form. The meaning of such a
proposition is that whatever falls under any one or more alternatives
on one side must fall under one or more alternatives on the other side.
From what has been said before, it is apparent that the proposition
A ꖌ B = C ꖌ D
will correspond to
*ab* = *cd*,
each member of the latter being the negative of a member of the former
proposition.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account