A person's life is not conceivable without a constant exchange of information with people around him. That is why in history there is a piggy bank of famous quotes and sayings. The human word is unusually strong - great orators, rhetoricians, generals, statesmen were able to inspire entire nations with their speech. Next, we will talk about what a statement is, analyze what it is, find out what goals it serves, learn how to build sayings that are pleasant to everyone and everyone, and also recall some famous sayings.
Scientific definition
From the point of view of science, a proposition is a basic (undefined) term from the field of mathematical logic. More commonly, an utterance is any declarative sentence that states something about something. Moreover, from the point of view of specific circumstances and time frames, it is possible to state with accuracy whether it is true or false under existing conditions. Each such logical statement can thus be attributed to one of 2 groups:
- True.
- False.
True statements, for example, include the following:
- Ifthe girl graduated from school, she receives a certificate of secondary education.
- London is the capital of Great Britain.
- Crucian is a fish.
False statements like this:
- A dog is not an animal.
- St. Petersburg is built on the Moskva River.
- The number 15 is divisible by 3 and 6.
What is not a statement?
It is necessary to make a reservation that in the field of exact sciences, not all sentences fall into the category of statements. It becomes obvious that a phrase that does not carry either truth or falsity falls out of the group of statements, for example:
- Long live world peace!
- Welcome to the new school!
- You must bring boots and an umbrella for a walk.
Statement classification
So, if what a statement is is clarified, then the classification of this category is still undetermined. Meanwhile, it really exists. Statements are divided into 2 two groups:
- A simple, or elementary, statement is a sentence that is a single statement.
- Complex, or compound, statement, that is, one that is formed from elementary ones, thanks to the use of grammatical connectives “or”, “and”, “neither”, “not”, “if … then …”, “then and only then ", etc. An example is the true sentence:" If the child has motivation, then he does well at school", which is formed from 2 elementary statements:" The childis motivated” and “He does well in school” with an “if…then…” linking element. All similar constructions are built in a similar way.
So, with the fact that such a statement is specifically in relation to the field of exact sciences, now everything is clear. For example, in algebra, any statement is considered only in terms of its logical meaning, without taking into account any worldly content. Here the statement can be either exclusively true or exclusively false - the third is not given. In this, a logical statement is qualitatively different from a philosophical statement, which will be discussed later.
In school mathematics (and sometimes computer science) elementary statements are denoted by lowercase Latin letters: a, b, c, … x, y, z. The true value of a judgment is traditionally marked with the number "1", and the false value with the number "0".
Important concepts for establishing the truth or falsity of a statement
The main terms that somehow touch the field of logical propositions include:
- "judgment" is some statement that is potentially true or false;
- "statement" - a judgment that requires proof or refutation;
- "reasoning" - a set of logical and interrelated judgments, facts, conclusions and provisions that can be obtained through other judgments according to certain rules for making a conclusion;
- "induction" is a way of reasoning fromprivate (smaller) to general (more global);
- "deduction" - on the contrary, a way of reasoning from the general to the particular (it was the deductive method that was used to the advantage of the famous hero of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories Sherlock Holmes, who, coupled with a knowledge base, observation and attentiveness, allowed him to find the truth, clothe it into the form of logical statements, build the correct chain of inference and as a result identify the criminal).
What is a statement in psychology: "You"-statement
The science of human consciousness also assigns a huge role to the categories of statements. It is with the help of it that an individual can make a positive impression on others and create a non-conflict microclimate in relationships. Therefore, today psychologists are trying to popularize the topic of the existence of two types of statements: these are “I” statements and “You” statements. Anyone who wants to improve in communication should forget about the last type forever!
Typical examples of “You” statements are:
- - You're always wrong!
- - Once again you are climbing with your recommendations!
- - Can you not be so clumsy?
They immediately feel open dissatisfaction with the interlocutor, accusation, the creation of an uncomfortable situation for a person in which he is forced to defend himself. In this case, he cannot hear, understand and accept the point of view of the "accuser" becauseinitially placed in the position of the enemy and the enemy.
"I"-statements
If the purpose of the statement is the expression of one's opinion, feelings, emotions, then one should never forget about finding an approach to the interlocutor. Throwing a short accusation at “you” is much easier, but in this case you can not count on a positive reaction from the interlocutor, because the cocoon of reciprocal emotional protection will not allow him to get through. Therefore, it will be more effective to try the technique of "I"-statements, which rests on certain principles.
The first step is not to blame the interlocutor, but to express your own emotional reaction about what happened. Although the other person does not know what will be discussed next, intuitively he will be predisposed to the problems of a friend and will be ready to show participation and care.
For example, you could say:
- I'm sad.
- I'm outraged.
- I'm confused.
- I'm ready to burst into tears.
Next, you need to explain what caused such emotions. Again, we act only through the form "I":
- I was late for work and my boss reprimanded me.
- I was waiting for you and couldn't call because the network didn't catch well.
- I sat in the rain for an hour and got wet.
Finally, an explanation should be given of why a certain action caused a certain reaction:
- For me, this event was extremely important.
- I'm too tired and unable to cope with the burden of responsibilities.
- I have put a lot of effort into this case and inreceived nothing!
At the penultimate or final (depending on the situation) stage, you need to express a wish or request. The person to whom the interlocutor turns after such a detailed description of feelings should receive certain recommendations and advice for further behavior. Whether he takes them into account or not is his personal choice, which will demonstrate a real attitude:
- I wish you could leave the house earlier.
- I propose to agree: we will deal with domestic duties every other day.
Optional, but in some cases a necessary item is a warning about your intentions, namely:
- I'm afraid I can no longer lend you a car for the weekend.
- I'll remind you of your homework if you forget.
Mistakes in following the concept of "I"-statements
To build a successful dialogue and prevent scandals, you should exclude such mistakes from your own communication practice:
- Issuing charges. It is not enough to use only one point of technique, and then launch into denunciation and commenting on the interlocutor and his actions in the form: “You are late!”, “You broke!”, “You scattered things!”. In this case, the plan completely loses its meaning.
- Generalizations. Labels and stamps should be disposed of as soon as possible. We are talking about unflattering stereotypes about women driving, blondes, male bachelors, etc.
- Insults.
- Expressionown emotions in a rude way ("I'm ready to kill you!", "I'm just furious!").
Thus, "I"-statements involve the rejection of humiliation and reproaches in order not to turn communication into a dangerous invisible weapon.
Famous sayings of philosophers
The end of the article will be connected with statements that, unlike logical judgments and universal psychological techniques, are perceived by each person purely individually:
- What should not be done, do not do even in your thoughts (Epictetus).
- Give out someone else's secret - betrayal, give out your own - stupidity (Voltaire).
- If 50 million people say stupid things, it's still stupid (Anatole France).
Philosophical statements help people better understand themselves and others, support in various areas of life.
