Division and Classification

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental concepts, types, and rules of division and classification based on the lecture material.

Division

The process of separating a thing into its parts or resolving a whole into its components, which involves breaking down a class into subclasses or individual members.

Classification

The process of grouping individuals with common characteristics together to form a class; it collects or synthesizes items to form a group.

Physical Division

The categorization of a whole by breaking an individual object into its actual component parts, such as dividing the human body into head, torso, arms, legs, and feet.

Logical Division

Disassembling a universal concept into sub-concepts or reducing a term to its referents.

The Tree of Porphyry

A classic example of logical division demonstrating the descent from "Substance" down to "Individuals" such as Pablo, Pedro, and Juan.

Metaphysical Division

Analyzing an object based on the constituent qualities or elements that make up its essence or nature, such as defining "Man" as a rational, sentient, living, bodily substance.

Consistency

A rule for proper division stating that the same basis or foundation must be used throughout the process to avoid logical errors.

Fallacy of Cross Division

A logical error caused by using multiple bases simultaneously, such as dividing men by both race and marital status at once.

Exhaustiveness

A rule requiring division to be adequate and complete, where all parts of the whole must be enumerated without omitting any group.

Clarity and Order

A rule stating that the division process should be lucid, with parts that are reasonably few and focused on main classes before further subdivision.

Natural Classification

Grouping things according to natural or essential attributes or structures, such as dividing animals into viviparous and oviparous groups.

Viviparous

A category of animals in natural classification that give birth.

Oviparous

A category of animals in natural classification that lay eggs.

Artificial Classification

Grouping things based on conventional or arbitrary characteristics, such as grouping patients by whether they use wheelchairs or crutches.

The Golden Rule of Classification

The principle that entities should always be classified according to their most common essential attributes or important shared qualities.