Chapter V
Of Truth in General An essay concerning human understanding | ||
5. Mental and verbal propositions contrasted.
But to return to the consideration of truth: we must, I say, observe two sorts of propositions that we are capable of making:--
First, mental, wherein the ideas in our understandings are without the use of words put together, or separated, by the mind perceiving or judging of their agreement or disagreement.
Secondly, Verbal propositions, which are words, the signs of our ideas, put together or separated in affirmative or negative sentences. By which way of affirming or denying, these signs, made by sounds, are, as it were, put together or separated one from another. So that proposition consists in joining or separating signs; and truth consists in the putting together or separating those signs, according as the things which they stand for agree or disagree.
Chapter V
Of Truth in General An essay concerning human understanding | ||