РАЗЛИЧЕНИЕ

Distinction

1. A necessary feature of every unity, the peculiarity of every thing, phenomenon, process, characterising the inherent contradictoriness of things, their development. Distinction necessarily follows from the self-movement of matter, the dialectical splitting of the single, the appearance of contradictions. The immanent origin of Distinctions and their interaction are features of the internal objective logic of evolution.

Internal Distinctions should be differentiated from the external ones, not connected directly with the development of a given concrete thing. External Distinction simply means that the given thing is distinguished from all others and appears as something independent and relatively stable. Internal Distinctions signify that in the process of its development the thing is, as it were, transformed into another, at the same time remaining itself: in this the unity of identity and Distinction is clearly revealed.

Distinction is a feature of the initial stage of contradiction, it is a "contradiction in itself", a non-unfolding, undeveloped contradiction. At the same time it is impossible to isolate the external and internal Distinctions from each other. In the process of development and isolation of the different aspects of a developing phenomenon, internal Distinctions may be transformed into external ones. On the other hand, external Distinctions serve as a necessary supplement to internal ones; they may serve as a kind of stimulus for the appearance of internal Distinctions. The insolvency of the metaphysical alienation and opposition of external and internal Distinctions; Distinction and identity are proved by the whole development of contemporary science.

2. Act of the consciousness reflecting the objective difference between things or the elements of consciousness itself (sensations, concepts, etc.). In logic, Distinction implies a method which replaces the definition of concepts (e.g., hydrogen differs from oxygen in that it burns but does not sustain combustion). The term Distinction was introduced in the Middle Ages. The scholastics used it to denote an objective difference or disparity (real Distinction, essential Distinction, causative Distinction, etc.) and differences in thought (Distinction of reason, subjective, formal, etc.). The term Distinction is also used in our time.