Concept
Relation (philosophy)
Overview
general relation between different objects or individuals
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 Relation (philosophy) is discussed.
The word RELATION is commonly used in two senses considerably different from each other. Either for that quality, by which two ideas are connected together in the imagination, and the one naturally introduces the other, after the manner above-explained: or for that particular circumstance, in which, even…
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; opens on it
7. All other objects, such as fire and water, heat and cold, are only found to be contrary from experience, and from the contrariety of their _causes_ or _effects_; which relation of cause and effect is a seventh philosophical relation, as well as a natural one. The resemblance implied in this relation shall be explained afterwards. It might naturally be expected that I should join _difference_ to the other…
David Hume, Philosophical Works, v. 1
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; opens on it
For, as I said, relation is a way of comparing or considering two things [*dropped line] from that comparison; and sometimes giving even the relation itself a name. 8. Our Ideas of Relations often clearer than of the Subjects related.
John Locke, An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; opens on it
Thus it is easier to account for falsehood if we take judgement to be a relation in which the mind and the various objects concerned all occur severally; that is to say, Desdemona and loving and Cassio must all be terms in the relation which subsists when Othello believes that Desdemona loves Cassio. This relation, therefore, is a relation of four terms, since Othello also is one of the terms of the relation. When…
Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy
names the idea; states what it is; author linked in the graph; opens on it
But in one person there are several relations; as in the person of the Father there is paternity and common spiration. Again, one relation exists in two person, as common spiration in the Father and in the Son. Therefore relation is not the same as person. Obj. 2: Further, according to the Philosopher (Phys. iv, text. 24), nothing is contained by itself.
Aquinas Thomas, Summa Theologica, Part I
names the idea; states what it is; author linked in the graph; opens on it
Philosophers who discussed Relation (philosophy)
Related ideas
- Absolute idealism
- G. E. Moore
- Quality (philosophy)
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
- Philosophical realism
- Tuple
- Immanuel Kant
- Classical physics
- Idealism
- Albertus Magnus
- Truth value
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Function (mathematics)
- Mathematics
- Metaphysics
- Augustus De Morgan
- Monism
- Reflexive relation
- Monadology
- David Malet Armstrong
- Nominalism
- Common sense
- Thomas Aquinas
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of American philosophy.