The Three Mental Operations

Exploring the Epistemic Foundations of the Science of Correct

Reasoning

The need…1. Studying logic entails the understanding of how the mind

works.

- Reasoning as a mental procedure needs to be shown, in a framework coming from the originary Organon - Aristotle.

2. These mental operations practically presents the Course Plantilla in Formal Logic.

- Familiarity allows one to understand the procedure and the necessity of undergoing each step so as to achieve the ends of reasoning.

3. Eventual realization of the limits of logic as a tool to truth and validity.

he Acts of the MindTSimple Apprehension

A PROCEDURE WHERE THE MIND GRASPS A THING WITHOUT AFFIRMING OR DENYING

IT.

qualitiesSENSE EXPERIENCE

external

internalCOMMON SENSE, MEMORY, IMAGINATION, ESTIMATIVE FACULTY

he Acts of the MindTSimple Apprehension

IDEA – internal productIDEOGENESIS – birth of an idea

q1

q2

q3

External sense

Internal sense

ABSTRACTIONStripping off accidents to arrive at being.

- Physical, Mathematical, Metaphysical

Idea

TERM – expressed product

Term

TREE

COCONUT

Tree

Coconut

ideas

Terms Material sign

Formal sign

Intellectual image/representation of an essence; the building blocks knowledge.

Word; sensible conventional signs expressive of an idea.

he Acts of the MindTJudgment

THE ACT OF THE MIND WHERE TWO APPREHENDED TERMS ARE JOINED THEN AFFIRMED OR DENIED.

Materially expressed: spoken/written

IDENTITYNON-IDENTITY

Coconut Tree

COCONUTS ARE TREES.

MENTAL SENTENCE – internal product

PROPOSITION – EXTERNAL PRODUCT

-A statement or a component, standing as one, and is capable of expressing truth/falsity.

-A plausible premise.

he Acts of the MindTReasoning

THE ACT OF THE MIND WHERE WE DRAW A CONCLUSION FROM A GIVEN SET OF VALIDLY

DRAWN PREMISES.

THE MIND PROCEEDS TO CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE BY WAY OF INFERENCE.

ALL TREES ARE TALL

ALL COCONUTS ARE TREES

Ergo: ALL COCONUTS ARE

TALL.

ARGUMENTATION – internal product

- ARGUMENT: group of statements that is claimed to provide support one of the others.

SYLLOGISM – expressed product.

- Premises: statements setting forth reason/evidence

- Conclusion: statement that the evidence is claimed to support or imply.

A, B, C ideas

A is B. proposition

A is B.

C is A.

: C is B.

syllogism

  1ST ACT 2ND ACT 3RD ACT

NAME Simple Apprehension Judgment Reasoning

MENTAL PRODUCT Concept Mental Sentence Argument

LINGUISTIC EXPRESSION

Term Declarative Sentences Paragraph

EXAMPLES “Man”, “Mortal” Socrates is a man. All men are mortal.Socrates is a man.Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

STRUCTURAL PARTS None, unitary Subject Term, Predicate Term

Premises, Conclusion

QUESTION ANSWERED

What it is. Whether it is. Why it is.

ASPECT OF REALITY Essence Existence Cause

GOOD WHEN Clear True Valid

HOW TO ACHIEVE Definition of terms No one way. Rules of Logic

BAD WHEN Unclear False Invalid, Fallacious

QUESTION TO HABITUALLY ASK

What do you mean? (Define your terms)

What is your point? (State your conclusion.)

Why? (Prove it)

The Acts of the Mind and their Features