SIMPLE APPREHENSION

Lecture 2

LOOKING AHEAD VIA THE THREE

(3) ACTS OF THE MIND

Simple
Apprehension
(LECTURE 2)

Judgment

Reasoning

(LECTURE 3)

(LECTURE 5)

THE MISSING LECTURE 4?

On Propositions
(LECTURE 4)

SIMPLE APPREHENSION
It is the operation by which we grasp the
meaning of a term.
With reference to terms, it is a mental operation
by which we mentally grasp a thing, making it
present in and to our mind, but without affirming
or denying anything about it.

THE MEANING OF THE WORD

TRIANGLE

OBJECTS OF SIMPLE
APPREHENSION

Materi
al

The whole thing that

is known by Simple
Apprehension
Includes not only
what we know about
the thing grasped,
but all else knowable
in the thing

Formal

The essence or
quiddity (whatness)
of things.
The intellectual
grasping of what a
thing is.

THE MEANING OF CONCEPT

OR IDEA

A Concept or Idea is the mental expression of an

essence (quiddity) of a thing. It is the product
that Simple Apprehension produces within the
mind as a means of knowing the essence of
things.
Ideas are the building stones of knowledge. Ideas
are the elements that constitute whatever
judgment that can be formed in our mind, and
hence, the foundation of knowledge.

ARISTOTLE A POSTERIORI
KNOWLEDGE

Tabula Rasa

THE PROCESS OF IDEOGENESIS

Sensible Order

Thing

Percept
Product of
Sensation
- Sight
- Smell
- Hearing
- Taste
- Touch

Phantasm

Made up of
accidental
qualities of
a thing

Intellectual Order

Abstracted
Nature

Dematerialized
Phantasm

Idea or
Concept
Made up of
the essence of
a thing

Memory
Stored
Ideas

PROPERTIES OF IDEA OR TERM

Comprehension
The sum total of the intelligible elements of the
quiddity signified by the term.

Extension
It includes the subject signified by the term.

FUNCTIONAL EXTENSION
If it sets before the mind each of the subjects it
Universa signifies.

If it sets before the mind an indeterminate designated

Particula portion of its total possible extension.

Singular

If it sets before the mind one that is designated to the

individual or group.

END.