According to the theory of Logical Types, proposed by Alfred North Whithead and
Bertrand Russell (1910 - 1913), one must distinguish between a class (set) and the
elements of the class. A statement that refers to a class manifests a higher level of
abstraction - in other words, is of a higher logical type - than does a statement
that refers to the elements of a class or set. This distinction is of particular
importance when two statements are so presented that it can not be determined from the
outset whether reference is being made to the class as a whole or to an element of the
class. The word "man" can refer to an individual being; it can also refer to a
class, the class of all human beings. In the latter case, the concept of "man"
is located at a higher level of abstraction and corresponds to a higher logical type.*
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*Extracted with permission from Simon, Fritz et al Language of Family
Therapy - A Systemic Vocabulary and Source Book (Family Process Press Series)
Paperback 1985 Family Process, Inc.
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