date

26 Sept. 1814 Logic 2
26 Sept. 1814

Logic

2

Ch.2. Ontology

Entities classed

11

5

So much for space taken in the aggregate. But take this or that individual portion of space, the properties of it are very different. Conceive it, as in innumerable, instances it really is, enclosed in bodies, immediately it is, and unavoidably, you conceive it to be endowed with many of the properties of bodies. Of limits it is susceptible, as body is; in point of fact it has limits; and, having these limits, it thereby has not only form but quantity. It not only has limits as truly as body has limits, but it has the same limits.

Having limits, it thereby has form, quantity, and even motion: along with the terraqueous globe, - i.e. with the whole matter of it, - all the portions of space enclosed in that matter describe round the sun, and with the sun, their continually repeated and ever varied round.

Substance being a real physical entity perceptions real psychical entities, - matter, form, quantity, and so on, so many fictitious entities, both descriptions being in part applicable to space, neither of them applicable entirely, - space may be regarded and spoken of as a semi-real entity.

33
Similar Items
  • Title: [26 Sept. 1814 Logic 4]
    Description: 26 Sept. 1814

    Logic

    4

    Ch.2. Ontology

    Entities classed

    9

    3

    III. Quantity: Quantity has been distinguished into continuous, and 2. discrete.

    Discrete quantity (it is commonly said) is number: It should rather be said is composed of numbers: viz. of numbers more than one of separate existence /entities/.

    If there were but one entity in the world /existence/ - whether substance or perception, discrete quantity the modification of quantity termed.

    It is only by means of discrete quantity i.e. number that continuous quantity can be measured by the mind that any precise idea of any particular quantity can be formed.

    To form an idea of any continuous quantity, i.e. of a body as existing in a certain quantity, one of two courses must be taken or conceived to be taken in relation to it. It must be divided, or conceived to be divided, into parts, i.e. into a determinate number of parts, or together with other similar bodies made up into a new, and artificial, and compounded whole.

    To divide a body, or conceive a body to be divided into parts, it suffices not to divide it, or conceive it divided, into its constituent bodies, into any such smaller bodies as are contained in it. Either the entire body itself, or its parts respectively, must, by the mind, be conceived to be divided into its several dimensions.

    Be the body what it may, not being boundless, it cannot but have some bound or bounds; if one, it is a surface; these bounds, if there be more than one, are surfaces: these surfaces again, not being boundless, have their bounds, - these bounds are lines.

    The only bodies that have each of them but one uniform surface are spheres.

    Bodies are real entities. Surfaces and lines are but fictitious entities. A surface without depth, a line without thickness, was never seen by any man; no; nor can any conception be seriously formed of its existence.

    31
  • Title: [25 Sept. 1814 Logic 3]
    Description: 25 Sept. 1814

    Logic

    3

    Ch. 2. Ontology

    Entities classed

    8

    2

    The word substance is the name of a class of real entities of, the only class which has in it any corporeal entities.

    The word matter is but the name of a class of fictitious entities, springing out of the sort of real entity distinguished by the word substance.

    And so it is in regard to the word form.

    The ideas respectively belonging to /designated/ by these corresponding words are fractional results, produced from the decomposition of the word substance.

    Every real physical entity every corporeal substance every sort of body has its matter and form; and this its matter, and this its form are entities totally different from each other.

    These names of entities possess, both of them, the characteristic properties of fictitious entities. It is by means of propositions designative of place, and, by that means, of a fictitious material image, that their images are connected with the name of the real entity substance.

    In that substance exists such and such matter; behold the matter of that substance; behold all this matter from that substance. Here substance is a receptacle; matter a fictitious entity, spoken of in one of these occasions as if it were a real entity contained within that receptacle; in the others as one that had proceeded from it.

    Behold the form in which that substance presents itself; behold the form, the figure, the shape, the configuration of that substance.

    Figure, configuration, shape - in these several words may be seen so many synonyms, or almost synonyms, to the word form.

    30
  • Title: [26 Sept. 1814 Logic 1]
    Description: 26 Sept. 1814

    Logic

    1

    Ch. Ontology

    Entities classed

    10

    4

    Space is the negation or absence of body.

    Of any determinate individual portion of space, as clear an idea is capable of being formed as of any body, or of any portion of any body; and besides, being equally determinate as that of body, the idea of space is much more simple.

    To space it is difficult either to ascribe or to deny /refuse/ existence without a contradiction in terms; to consider it as nothing or as distinct from nothing.

    Body /Of body/ that is of all bodies, whatsoever, - the annihilation may be conceived without difficulty. Why ? Because, in whatsoever place, - that is, within whatsoever portion of space, within whatsoever receptacle, composed of mere space, any body is, at any given time conceived to be, it may thenceforward be conceived to be removed from that place, and so successively from any and every other portion of space.

    Of Space - that is, of all portions of space whatever, indeed of so much as any one portion of space, the annihilation cannot easily be conceived. Why ? Because in mere space there

    is nothing to remove; nothing that can be conceived capable of being removed. In so far as matter is annihilated, there is less matter than there was before. But, suppose space to be annihilated; is there less space than there was before ?

    As /accordingly/ taken in the aggregate no bounds no limits can be assigned to space, so neither can any form or any quantity. It cannot be removed; it cannot be moved; for there is nothing of it or in it to remove; there is no place to which it can be removed.

    32