Concept
Classification
Overview
process of grouping of objects into classes
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Classification is discussed.
Classification is necessary. But unless you can progress from classification to mathematics, your reasoning will not take you very far.
Alfred North Whitehead, Science and the modern world
states what it is; names the idea; opens on it
Whence it follows that the advance of classification is necessarily proportionate to the advance of generalisations. Yet further, the notion of _likeness_, both in things and relations, simultaneously evolves by one process of culture the ideas of _equality_ of things and _equality_ of relations; which are the respective bases of…
Herbert Spencer, Essays on education and kindred subjects
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
In the other, the arrangement and distribution are the main object, and the naming is secondary to, and purposely conforms itself to, instead of governing, that more important operation. Classification, thus regarded, is a contrivance for the best possible ordering of the ideas of objects in our minds; for causing the ideas to accompany or succeed one another in such a way as shall give us the greatest command over…
John Stuart Mill, A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive
names the idea; opens on it
What now is the mental process by which classification is effected? Manifestly it is a recognition of the _likeness_ or _unlikeness_ of things, either in respect of their sizes, colours, forms, weights, textures, tastes, &c., or in respect of their modes of action.
Herbert Spencer, Illustrations of Universal Progress
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Thus "perspectives" and "things" are merely two different ways of classifying particulars. It is to be observed that there is no _a priori_ necessity for particulars to be susceptible of this double classification. There may be what might be called "wild" particulars, not having the usual relations by which the classification is effected; perhaps dreams and hallucinations are composed of particulars which are "wild"…
Bertrand Russell, Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays
states what it is; names the idea
Philosophers who discussed Classification
Related ideas
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Alphabetical order.