27 July 1814

Logic

2

Ch.3.III. Operations

'.6.V. Subjects many

Designation

Denomination (collective)

Methodization

13

2

2. Denomination - or say common, collective, or generic denomination. In so far as the sort of operation thus described and denominated has place, the same sign is made to designate and upon occasion render present to the mind, two or any greater number of individual objects: two or any greater number of individual objects, by which so ever of the two faculties, the memory or the imagination rendered present to it.

Thus while the human species contained but one individual, viz. Adam, individual designation was the only operation of this class which an intelligent and conversing being such as an Angel or a Devil, having occasion to designate him could have occasion to employ in the designation of him. But no sooner had Eve, when detached from his side, received a separate existence than the occasion for denomination, i.e. collective designation or denomination, came into existence: a name such as should be capable of designating the species which by the addition of this second individual was now formed. One species was then already in actual existence: at the same time, two sort[?] of subordinate species, or rather two species at once, viz. the two species formed together by the difference in respect of sex, received already a sort of potential existence. At the birth of Cain, the species constituted [by] the male sex received an actual existence: Adam and Cain, the individuals: on the birth of Cain's eldest sister, the species corresponding to the female sex, received the like existence: Eve and her unnamed daughter whoever she were, the individuals.

 Continue this subject under the head of Language, to which make reference.