Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Logic) A declaration of something self-evident; something that can be assumed as the basis for argument. In formal logic, a predication is a statement that affirms or denies a predicate about a subject, serving as a foundational proposition.
   • (Linguistics) The action of making something a predicate or the state of being a predicate. This refers to the grammatical function of expressing something about the subject of a sentence.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Logic):
  • The philosopher's argument began with the simple predication "all humans are mortal."
  • In symbolic logic, a basic predication links a subject to a property.
• Noun (Linguistics):
  • The process of turning an adjective into a verb is an example of predication.
  • The sentence structure involves the predication of "is blue" to the subject "the sky."

Advanced Usage

• Logical Predication: The act of attributing a property to a subject within a logical proposition.
  • The validity of the syllogism depends on its initial predication.
• Grammatical Predication: The syntactic construction where a predicate expresses an action, state, or property of the subject.
  • The study focused on the predication of stative verbs in ancient texts.

Variants and Related Words

• Predicate (verb/noun): To state, affirm, or declare; or the part of a sentence that expresses something about the subject.
  • One can predicate a conclusion on certain evidence.
• Predicative (adjective): Relating to or acting as a predicate.
  • In the phrase "the sky is blue," the word "blue" is used predicatively.

Synonyms

• Assertion: A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
• Declaration: A formal or explicit statement or announcement.
• Affirmation: The action or process of affirming something.

Related Phrases

• Predication of identity: A statement that asserts one thing is identical to another.
  • "Cicero is Tully" is a classic example of a predication of identity.
• Theory of predication: A philosophical or linguistic theory concerning how properties are attributed to subjects.
  • Aristotle developed a detailed theory of predication.

Noun

1. (logic) a declaration of something self-evident; something that can be assumed as the basis for argument