Handbook of the History of Logic: - Fordham University Faculty

Logic and Theories of Meaning . . . 379
level of cognition intention concrete abstract
apprehension first man
humanity
(according to his
proper mode of being)
second universal, genus, universality, general-
species, differentia ity etc.
composition first man is an animal reflection on this
second conclusion, propo-
composition
this composition as
sition, question far as it is concluded,
affirmed/denied
doubted
or
reasoning first every man runs, reflection on this rea-
Socrates is a man, soning, e.g. that it is
therefore
runs
Socrates deductive reasoning
second syllogism, enthymeme,inference,
deduction
of abstraction results in the concept and first abstract intention humanity. In
Aquinas’ terms this would be called formal or precisive abstraction. It is obvious
that ‘humanity’ cannot be predicated of John. Only concrete intentions can be
predicated, but it is not the intention man that is predicated, because John is not a
concept, but the real man under the aspect of humanity (sub ratione humanitatis).
The predication implies a description that corresponds with the mode of being of
the object. 165
Radulphus pays ample attention to the question of the origin and foundation of
second intentions. 166 On the level of apprehension the foundation of a cognition of
second intention (e.g. when species is predicated of man) is the same as that of a
cognition of first intention (e.g. when animal is predicated of man), namely a real
man; only the mode of being under which the object is known is different. 167 Thus,
second intentions on the level of apprehension are caused by a real object under a
common mode of being (sub modo essendi communi). Radulphus concludes that
these second intentions are real (but of course not extra-mental) habits of the
intellect. 168 Logic considers things according to their (common) modes of being
165Pinborg [1974, p. 53].
166Radulphus Brito, soph. ‘Aliquis homo est species’, paragraph 52–59. See also Pinborg [1974,
pp. 53–4].
167Pinborg [1974, p. 53].
168paragraph 56, [ed. Pinborg, p. 146].