Glossary of Terms for Traditional

Abstraction: The process of deriving a simple apprehension from a sense perception and mental image

Comprehension: What an object is according to its notes (substance, material, living, sentience, and rationality; one of the properties of Simple Apprehension.

Concept: An abstract idea or mental picture

Deductive Inference: When the mind makes a connection between the terms in a syllogism, showing the conclusion to derive from the premises

Essence: The permanent nature of something that makes it what it is.

Extension: What a concept refers to; one of the properties of Simple Apprehension.

Judgment: Second mental act of logic; occurs when you affirm or deny something

Logic: The science of right thinking

Formal Logic: Focus is on the structure of argumentation (argument is constructed the right way)

Material Logic: Focus is on the content of argumentation (whether or not the argument is true)

Note: A simple concept used to define a more complex concept (e.g., sentience)

Porphyrian Tree: A diagram designed to help you classify and divide all of reality, in order to show similarities and differences among physical objects.

Proposition: The verbal expression of Judgment; also called a statement (e.g., All cups are red). Propositions are very important because they are the only verbal expressions that are either true or false.

Sense Perception: The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses

Signification: The sense of a term and what meaning it conveys (univocal, equivocal, analogous)

Simple Apprehension: The first mental act of logic (an act) and the concept itself

Soundness: When a syllogism is valid and has all true premises

Substance: A substance is something rather than nothing. If anything exists, it is a substance.

Supposition: The kind of existence a term refers to (verbal, mental, or real).

Syllogism: An argument in which a conclusion is drawn from two premises, which both share a common term that does not occur in the conclusion. Syllogisms are either valid or invalid.

Term: The verbal expression of a Simple Apprehension (e.g., ‘man’ or ‘plant’). Terms are either clear or unclear in their meaning(s).

Validity: When the premises of an argument actually support the conclusion, and are arranged in the correct way. One or more of the premises may be false. Validity is all about structure Important People to Remember

Socrates (b. 470 – d. 399 B.C.): Ancient Athenian philosopher. As represented in the writings of his disciple , he engaged in dialogue with others in an attempt to reach understanding and ethical concepts by exposing and dispelling error (the so-called Socratic method of inquiry and teaching). Charged with introducing strange gods and corrupting the young, he committed suicide as required in 399 B.C.

Plato (b. 428 – d. 347 B.C.): Greek philosopher. A disciple of Socrates and the teacher of , he founded the Academy in Athens. His theory of "ideas” or "forms” contrasts abstract entities or universals (also known as concepts) with their objects or particulars in the material world.

Aristotle (b. 384 – d. 322 B.C.): Greek philosopher and scientist. A student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great. He is one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Western thought. His surviving works cover vast range of subjects, including logic, politics, ethics, and natural science.

Plotinus (b. 205 – d. 270 A.D.): Probably the most influential philosopher of antiquity after Plato and Aristotle. Essentially he was a student of Plato’s writings and the founder of the philosophy of Neo-Platonism. Neo- Platonism is an interpretation of Plato that combined ideas from Plato, Aristotle. It was a major influence on early Christian and later medieval theologians. Neo-Platonism pictures the human soul rising above the imperfect material world through virtue and contemplation toward knowledge of the transcendent One.

Porphyry (b. 232 – d. 303 A.D.): Philosopher who studied the teachings of Plato under another philosopher named Plotinus. He tried to synthesize the thought of Plato and Aristotle (many think they disagreed).

1. Socrates taught Plato → Plato taught Aristotle 2. Plotinus taught →