“THE TERM”

1. The Meaning of a Term

In order to understand the rudiments of basic logic, we have to begin with an elaboration of
the concepts
of logical language. The most important of which is the meaning of the term as a component
in logical
reasoning.
The term, according to Andrew Bachhuber, has two function:

1.1 It is a sign of a concept.

1.2 Its is the most basic part of a proposition

As a sign of a concept, a term represents an idea (intra-mental) or an object (extra-mental).

The idea that
one has of the object then is a resemblance of the object. This resemblance refers to objective
similarities.
A concept in these sense is an idea that exists in the realm of thought. While experience is
extra-mental,
a concept or an idea is intra-mental.
A concept in this sense is an abstraction from reality. In “Man is a social being,” the predicate
“social being” is abstracted from the reality of “man”. To abstract means to draw a particular
quality from something, at least mentally, and in this example, the attribute of “sociality”.

A term is a word that denotes a particular object. By denoting, a term brings us an object or idea.
For example, the term “rational” denotes “man”, and the term “living things” denotes “plants”,
“animals”, and others. On the other hand, as the most basic part of a proposition, the term
acts as the subject or predicate of a proposition. In the proposition, “The librarian is on vacation”,
“The librarian” is the subject and the term “on vacation” is the predicate.
2. TYPES OF TERM
2.1 Simple and Complex

When the term used consists of a word, for instance,

“Jesus”, such is called a simple term, while when multiple
words are used ,like “the greatest person to have walked the
planet”, such is called a complex term. When a term is
composed of more than one word, we call that term a
Complex term.
2.2 Significant and Non-significant
Moreover, terms can be classified either as
significant or non-significant. When a term is used
to directly express a concept, it is called a
significant term. A significant term shows the nature
of a thing. A significant term explains what kind of
thing a thing is. As we have mentioned before, the
term logic comes from the Greek word “logos”,
meaning “word”, suggesting the importance
of language in the nature of logical thinking.
 Other instances of significant terms are
“leader”, “government”, “peace”, “territory”
Etc. We can see that these terms directly
point out the reality or entity which they
represent. The term directly expresses the
nature of the entity. On the other hand, there
are terms that simply point out the thing
without signifying what the thing is.
2.3 Distributive and Collective
Furthermore, terms can also be used
as distributive and collective. A term is
distributive when it shows the essence of
Entities singularly. Collective terms signify
the essence of entities as a unit.
2.4 Univocal, Equivocal and Analogical Terms

First, a term is said to be univocal when

it has the same meaning. For example, the
term “electric” is used in the same sense
when applied to “electric bulb”, “electric
car”, and “electric stove”.
 Second, a term is said to be equivocal when
it is used in entirely different sense. For instance
the term “ruler” can mean “a person” and
“a measuring instrument.
Third, a term is said to be analogical when it
is used in distinct but related senses.
The term “being”, for instance, can be partly
the same, and partly different, when applied to
both “God” and “man”.