When the original Dutch version of this book was presented in 1971 to the University of Leiden as a thesis for the Doctorate in philosophy, I was prevented by the academic mores of that university from expressing my sincere thanks to three members of the Philosophical Faculty for their support of and interest in my pursuits. I take the liberty of doing so now, two and a half years later. First and foremost I want to thank Professor G. Nuchelmans warmly for his expert guidance of my research. A number of my most imยญ portant sources were brought to my attention by him. During the whole process of composing this book his criticism and encouragement were carried out in a truly academic spirit. He thereby provided working conditions that are a sine qua non for every author who is attempting to approach controversial matters in a scientific manner, conditions which, however, were not easily available at that time. In a later phase I also came into contact with Professors L. M. de Rijk and J. B. Ubbink, with both of whom I had highly stimulating discussions and exchanges of ideas. The present edition contains some entirely new sections, viz. 1-9, IV-29, V-9, V-20, VII-14 (iii), (iv), VII-17 (i), VIII-22, IX-17, IX-19, X-9 and XI-8. Section X-9 was inspired by a remark made by Professor A
CONTENT
1. The Problem -- I. Introduction: Problems and Sources -- II. Naming What is -- III. The Semantics of the Logical Constants -- 2. Historical Survey -- IV. From the History of the Logic of Indefinite Propositions -- V. From the History of the Logic of Individual Propositions -- VI. Singular - General - Indefinite -- VII. The Identity Theories of the Copula -- 3. Descent -- VIII. Argument by Analogy -- IX. The Problem of the Logic of Relations and its Connection with the Logic of the Articles -- 4. Ascent -- X. Introduction of Indefinite Propositions by Ekthesis -- XI. Conjunction, Potentiality, and Disjunction -- XII. Summary and Conclusion -- Index of Proper Names -- Index of Subjects
