predicable

predicable
predicability, predicableness, n.predicably, adv.
/pred"i keuh beuhl/, adj.
1. that may be predicated or affirmed; assertable.
n.
2. that which may be predicated; an attribute.
3. Logic. any one of the various kinds of predicate that may be used of a subject.
[1545-55; < L praedicabilis assertable, L: praiseworthy, equiv. to praedica(re) to declare publicly (see PREDICATE) + -bilis -BLE]

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logic
      in logic, something that may be predicated, especially, as listed in Boethius' Latin version of Porphyry's Isagoge, one of the five most general kinds of attribution: genus, species, differentia, property, and accident. It is based upon a similar classification set forth by Aristotle in the Topics (a, iv–viii), which has “definition,” however, in place of “species.”

      Aristotle treated only statements of the form “A is B,” in which subject and predicate are both universal. He noted that in every true statement of this type the predicate either is convertible with the subject (i.e.,B is A” follows from “A is B”) or else it is not. If the predicate is convertible and states its essence, then it is the definition of the subject; whereas if it is convertible but does not state the essence, it is a property of the subject. On the other hand, if the predicate is not convertible with the subject but is part of the definition, it is the genus or differentia of the subject, for a definition always consists of genus and differentia. Finally, if the predicate is not convertible and is not part of the definition, it is an accident of the subject.

      Some Aristotelian examples may be briefly mentioned. In the true statement “Man is a rational animal,” the predicate is convertible with the subject and states its essence; therefore, “rational animal” is the definition of man. The statements “Man is an animal” and “Man is rational,” while true, are not convertible; their predicate terms, however, are parts of the definition and hence are the genus and differentia of man. On the other hand, the statement “Man is capable of learning grammar” is true and convertible; but “capable of learning grammar” does not state the essence of man and is therefore a property of man. The true statement “Man is featherless” offers an example of an accident. Its predicate is not convertible with its subject, nor is it part of the definition; accordingly, it expresses only an accidental characteristic of man.

       Porphyry gave the following examples of predicable relationships in which the subject is “man”: of genus, animal; of differentia, rational; of property, risible; and of accident, white.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • prédicable — [ predikabl ] adj. et n. • 1503; lat. prædicabilis, de prædicare « proclamer, déclarer » ♦ Didact. Applicable (à un sujet). N. Les prédicables : les classes de prédicats des scolastiques (genre, espèce, différence, qualités propres et accident).… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • predicable — Predicable. adj. de tout genre. Propre à servir à une predication. Sujet, matiere predicable. Il n a guere d usage que parmi les Ecclesiastiques. Predicable, est aussi un terme de Logique, & se dit d une qualité que l on donne à un sujet. L… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • predicable — [pred′i kə bəl] adj. [ML praedicabilis < L, praiseworthy < praedicare: see PREACH] capable of being predicated n. 1. something predicable 2. Logic any of the several sorts of predicate that can be used of a subject, as, in Aristotelian… …   English World dictionary

  • Predicable — Pred i*ca*ble, a. [Cf. F. pr[ e]dicable, L. praedicabilis praiseworthy. See {Predicate}.] Capable of being predicated or affirmed of something; affirmable; attributable. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Predicable — Pred i*ca*ble, n. 1. Anything affirmable of another; especially, a general attribute or notion as affirmable of, or applicable to, many individuals. [1913 Webster] 2. (Logic) One of the five most general relations of attributes involved in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • predicable — (Del lat. praedicabĭlis). 1. adj. Dicho de un asunto propio del sermón: Digno de ser predicado. 2. m. Fil. Cada una de las clases a que se reducen todas las cosas que se pueden decir o predicar del sujeto. Se dividen en cinco, que son género,… …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • predicable — ► adjetivo 1 RELIGIÓN Se aplica a los asuntos dignos de ser predicados en un sermón. 2 GRAMÁTICA, LÓGICA Que se puede decir o afirmar de un sujeto gramatical o de una proposición. * * * predicable (del lat. «praedicabĭlis») 1 adj. Fil., Gram. Se… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • prédicable — (pré di ka bl ) adj. 1°   Terme de logique. Qui peut être dit d un sujet. Le terme vivant est prédicable de la plante comme de l animal. 2°   S. m. Le prédicable, qualité qui fait ranger un objet dans telle ou telle catégorie. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Lat.… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • PRÉDICABLE — adj. des deux genres T. de Logique. Il se dit D une qualité, d une épithète générale que l on peut donner à différents sujets. Le terme Animal est prédicable autant de l homme que de la bête. Il est vieux …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • PRÉDICABLE — adj. des deux genres T. d’ancienne Logique Il s’est dit d’une Qualité qui peut être appliquée à un sujet. Le terme Animal est prédicable autant de l’homme que de la bête …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)

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