The Art of Logical Thinking: Or the Laws of Reasoning (Classic Reprint)

"The word reason itself is far from being precise in its meaning. In common and popular discourse it denotes that power by which we distinguish truth from falsehood, and right from wrong, and by which we are enabled to combine means for the attainment of particular ends."

employment of the reasoning faculties of the mind we compare objects

we are fully aware that you in connection with every other person, have reasoned all your mature life. That is not the question.

act, process or art of exercising the faculty of reason; the act or faculty of employing reason in argument; argumentation, ratiocination; reasoning power; disputation, discussion, argumentation."

An Affirmative Proposition is one in which the Predicate is affirmed to agree with the Subject. A Negative Proposition is one in which the agreement of the Predicate and Subject is denied.

In Logic, a Proposition is: "A sentence, or part of a sentence, affirming or denying a connection between the terms; limited to express assertions rather than extended to questions and commands." Hyslop defines a Proposition as: "any affirmation or denial of an agreement between two conceptions."

there is the element of the mental process on the one hand and the verbal expression of it on the other hand. It will be well to keep this fact in mind.

When a Judgment is expressed in words it is called a Proposition

Unless the qualities, properties and attributes are clearly and fully perceived, we cannot properly define the object itself.

Hyslop gives the following excellent explanation of the Logical Definition, which as he states is the proper meaning of the term in Logic. He states:

"The rules which regulate Logical Definition are as follows:

1. A definition should state the essential attributes of the species defined.

2. A definition must not contain the name of word defined. Otherwise the definition is called a circulus in definiendo.

3. The definition must be exactly equivalent to the species defined.

4. A definition should not be expressed in obscure, figurative, or ambiguous language.

5. A definition must not be negative when it can be affirmative."