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internal relation

American  

noun

Philosophy.
  1. a relation between two entities such that if they had not been in this relation the nature of each would necessarily have been different.


Etymology

Origin of internal relation

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There exist sciences which do not deal with the description or explanation of phenomena at all, but with the internal relation and connection, the interpretation and appreciation of purpose.

From International Congress of Arts and Science, Volume I Philosophy and Metaphysics by Various

If he did not, the question still remains, what is the internal relation between these two genuine Rhetorics?

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

"Causal," denoting a more internal relation, as if the outgoing of some agency or property, as follows:-- § 83.

From Greek in a Nutshell by Strong, James

And so long as he can keep himself clear of the "external relation," to use Mr. Herbert Spencer's phraseology, he has much less difficulty with the "internal relation."

From Natural Law in the Spiritual World by Drummond, Henry

It is, therefore, in some internal relation, that the property consists; that is, in some influence, which the external relations of the object have on the mind and actions.

From A Treatise of Human Nature by Hume, David