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ONT Re: Hermeneutic Equivalence Classes




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| Leibniz, "Elements of a Calculus" (cont.)
|
| 8.  Negative propositions merely contradict affirmatives, and assert
|     that they are false.  So a particular negative proposition simply
|     denies that an affirmative proposition is universal.  For example,
|     when I say "Some silver is not soluble in common 'aqua fortis'", I
|     simply mean that the universal affirmative proposition "All silver
|     is soluble in common 'aqua fortis'" is false.  For, if we believe
|     certain chemists, there is a contrary instance, which they call
|     "fixed silver" ['Luna fixa'].  A universal negative proposition
|     merely contradicts a particular affirmative.  For example, if I
|     say "No wicked man is happy", I mean that it is false that some
|     wicked man is happy.  So it is evident that negatives can be
|     understood from affirmatives, and conversely, affirmatives
|     from negatives.
|
| 9.  Further, in every categorical proposition there are two terms.
|     Any two terms, in so far as they are said to be in or not to
|     be in, i.e. to be contained or not to be contained, differ
|     in the following ways:  that either one is contained in
|     the other, or neither is.  If the one is contained in
|     the other, then either the one is equal to the other
|     or they differ as whole and part.  If neither is
|     contained in the other, then either they contain
|     something which is common, but not too remote,
|     or they are totally different.  However, we
|     will explain this species by species.
|     
| Leibniz, 'Logical Papers', pp. 19-20.
|
| Leibniz, G.W., "Elements of a Calculus" (April, 1679),
| G.H.R. Parkinson (ed.), 'Leibniz:  Logical Papers', pp. 17-24,
| Oxford University Press, London, UK, 1966.   (Couturat, 49-57).

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