In the study of the art of Reasoning, we seek to understand the right ordering of the mind. We begin with Aristotle’s “Categories”, where we learn of the ten categories, which can be studied here.
After learning of the categories, we take up the study of sentences in Aristotle’s “On Interpretation”, and we learn that only one kind of sentence is used in reasoning: the enunciative sentence.
The enunciative sentence is, very simply, a sentence which must be true or false.
- A question is a sentence, but not an enunciative sentence.
- A command is a sentence, but not an enunciative sentence.
- A prayer is a sentence, but not an enunciative sentence.
None of these sentences are true or false. They are not enunciative.
None of these sentences pertain to the art of reasoning.
An enunciative sentence (or proposition) is composed of a subject, predicate and copula, which joins the subject and predicate into one sentence.
All of the following are enunciative sentences:
- All men are white.
- No men are white.
- Some men are white.
- Some men are not white.
- Men are white.
- Men are not white.
Each of these sentences has a subject, predicate and copula. More importantly, each of these sentences is true or false.
This is what is meant by “enunciation” in classical Reasoning.
God bless your studies,
Mr. William C. Michael, Headmaster
