Which type of supposition refers to how a term exists in the real world?

• A. Logical supposition
• B. Material supposition
• C. Real supposition
• D. None

Answer: (C)

Supposition is about what a term in a proposition stands for. When we talk about how a term exists in the real world, we’re focusing on real supposition: the term is taken to stand for actual beings or things that exist, rather than just the word or the concept.

For example, in a statement like “Dogs are friendly,” under real supposition the term for dogs refers to actual dogs that exist in the world, not merely the name on the page or the idea of a dog in our minds. This contrasts with material supposition, where the term is treated as a sign or word itself (as when we discuss the letters in the word “dog” rather than any real dog). It also contrasts with other modes that treat the term as a mental concept or as the individuals known to the speaker, rather than the external beings themselves.

So, when the emphasis is on the existence of things in reality that the term denotes, that’s real supposition.