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degree,
From Works by Jeremy Bentham, August 1814
When men speak of the quantity of a quality, instead of saying quantity of a quality they commonly say a degree—in a high degree, in a low degree ; instead of 'high', we say sometimes, in a 'great' degree ; instead of low, in a 'small' degree.
Degree, in French degré, is from the Latin gradus, a step or stair ; that which is said to be a high degree is considered as situated upon the upper steps of a staircase. Scale, in French échelle, is from the Latin scala, a ladder ; whether the word be staircase or ladder, the image is to the purpose here in question much the same.
Vol. VIII, pp. 262-4.
BENTHAM'S THEORY OF FICTIONS by Charles Kay Ogden,
London, New York : Kegan Paul etc., Harcourt etc., p. xl.
From Bentham's Theory of Fictions, 1932 by C. K. Ogden
Matter, Form, Quantity—all these are susceptible of Quality. Matter, every portion of it, is capable of having its qualities, independently of those of its form and those of its quantity,
A body is said to be of such a quality ; such or such a quality is said to be in it, resident, inherent, in it. The matter, the form, the quantity of this body—in any one of thee fictitious entities may this secondary fictitious entity be said to be resident, to be inherent.
Between quantity and quality, a sort of reciprocation, a sort of reciprocal intercommunion may be observed to have place. As we have the quality of a quantity—two qualities, for instance, vastness, minutenes, etc., so has a quality its quantities.
The quantity of a quality is termed a degree.
London, New York : Kegan Paul etc., Harcourt etc. 1932, p. 27.
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