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A class is a collection whose members either fall under a predicate or are classified by a rule. Hence, while a set can be extensionally defined only by its elements, a class has also an intensional dimension that unites its members. When the term 'class' is applied so that it includes those sets whose elements are intended to be collected without a common predicate or rule, the distinction can be indicated by calling such sets "improper class."
Philosophers sometimes distinguish classes from types and kinds. The class of human beings is discussed, as well as the type (or natural kind), human being, or humanity. While both are typically treated as abstract objects and not different categories of being, types not classes are usually treated as universals. Whether natural kinds ought to be considered universals is vexed; see natural kind.
Types and kinds are discussed differently. Socrates is considered a token of a type (or an instance of the natural kind, human being) but a member of the class of human beings. He is a token (instance) not member of the type (kind), human beings. He is a member not type (or kind) of a class. The terminology is that types (or kinds) have tokens (or instances) while classes have members.
A class is conceptualized similarly to a set defined by its members. The class is extensional. A set defined intensionally is a set of things that meet some requirement to be a member. Such a set creates a type. It also creates a class from the extension of the intensional set. A type always has a corresponding (potentially empty) class, but a class does not necessarily have a corresponding type.
References
- Antony Flew. Dictionary of Philosophy. p. 64.
External links
- "Class" as analytical term in philosophy, Philosophypages.com
- "Class" as an analytical feature of any Category or Categorical term, in the language of deductive reasoning
- "Class" as an aspect of logic, and particularly Bertrand Russell"s Principia Mathematica
- "From Aristotle to EA: a type theory for EA" quoted 26/10/2014.
This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Class philosophy news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message This article needs attention from an expert in Philosophy The specific problem is Potentially confusing to non experts WikiProject Philosophy may be able to help recruit an expert April 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message A class is a collection whose members either fall under a predicate or are classified by a rule Hence while a set can be extensionally defined only by its elements a class has also an intensional dimension that unites its members When the term class is applied so that it includes those sets whose elements are intended to be collected without a common predicate or rule the distinction can be indicated by calling such sets improper class Philosophers sometimes distinguish classes from types and kinds The class of human beings is discussed as well as the type or natural kind human being or humanity While both are typically treated as abstract objects and not different categories of being types not classes are usually treated as universals Whether natural kinds ought to be considered universals is vexed see natural kind Types and kinds are discussed differently Socrates is considered a token of a type or an instance of the natural kind human being but a member of the class of human beings He is a token instance not member of the type kind human beings He is a member not type or kind of a class The terminology is that types or kinds have tokens or instances while classes have members A class is conceptualized similarly to a set defined by its members The class is extensional A set defined intensionally is a set of things that meet some requirement to be a member Such a set creates a type It also creates a class from the extension of the intensional set A type always has a corresponding potentially empty class but a class does not necessarily have a corresponding type ReferencesAntony Flew Dictionary of Philosophy p 64 External links Class as analytical term in philosophy Philosophypages com Class as an analytical feature of any Category or Categorical term in the language of deductive reasoning Class as an aspect of logic and particularly Bertrand Russell s Principia Mathematica From Aristotle to EA a type theory for EA quoted 26 10 2014 Philosophy portal
