An introductory text-book of logic - Mellone, Sydney - Rare Books at ...

1 8 THE NAME, THE TERM, THE CONCEPT,
is, which it points out and distinguishes from other
groups ; and the name is applicable to each member
of the group. The connotation of the same name
consists of the attributes by which all these beings are
distinguished, the attributes constituting
"
humanity."
Or, to give a mathematical example, the connotation of
the name "circle" may be accepted
in the form in
which Euclid states it; while its denotation consists
of all the cases of motion, form, &c., which are
"
circular."
It has been objected that in names such as
"
unicorn,"
"dragon," we have connotation, but the attributes which
are signified do not exist, and therefore we have no
denotation. But by denotation we do not mean only
existence in the real world ; existence in any kind of
world which is being spoken of as the subject of dis
course is sufficient e.g., the ideal world, or the world
of heraldry or folklore. Hence every common name
has both connotation and denotation, and is in short
the name of a class. It is none the less a class
name even if there is only one instance to which
it is applied ; for if it signifies certain characteristic
attributes of the thing which it denotes, it is potentially
common;
"the sun" is an instance of this. On the
other hand, the class denoted need not be numerically
definite or limited ; it is known by the attributes, and
any instance of these, whether a known or an un
known instance, constitutes a member of the class.
At a later stage of our present discussion, we shall
consider the connotation and denotation of singular
names ( 8).
Names of materials, the so-called "homogeneous"
names, are in a doubtful position. Names such as
"water," "wood," "iron," are singular as used of the