[Paper dated 1826 - maybe by George Bentham, or by the editor]

Logic

B.II. Operations

Ch.II. Modes of Exposition

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Chapter 2 d Modes of Exposition

Words, or sentences, when pronounced convey to my mind images (1), or collections of images, - ideas or collections of ideas for the purpose of communicating to the mind of another these same images or ideas I must make use of words or sentences which shall convey to it that same image or idea. - Suppose I do not know of any words which already answer that purpose either at all or so well as those which serve me. I must perform an operation by which they are made to convey those images to the mind also. - It is this operation that is meant by the exposition of, or expounding those words.

There are a great variety of modes in which exposition may be performed, some of them conveying far more readily and accurately than others, a clear idea of the word to be expounded. That which is the most clear whenever it can be made use of should be the one preferred, but there is no one equally applicable to all cases on all occasions. For how can a man expound the word horse by definition or description to another who understands not a word of his language ? Or how can the meaning of virtue be explained by signs ? In order therefore to shew on what occasions each mode may be employed to the greatest advantage, I shall here proceed to examine them all, explain each operation in detail mentioning the cases where it is the only one that can be employed, those where it is advantageous to make use of it instead of, or in conjunction with others, and those where it may be advisable to substitute others in view lieu of it. - The order I adopt must be that in which they would present themselves to be used /for use/ to the teacher commencing with the case where the hearer is entirely ignorant of the meaning of any one word comprised, either in the language to be taught, or in any other one known to the teacher.

1. Representation

If all words were significative of real entities, and if these were all objects which might at all times be brought within the reach of the perception both of the hearer and the teacher, exposition would be

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