elements (c) and (d) respectively. The concept (cd) “circular square” is indeterminate and unreal on account of the fact that the elements making up (cd), “circular” and “square”, have but one definite and determinate relationship to one another -that is, mutual exclusion, whereupon no determinate and definite, real concept can constructed from their combination. Separately (c) and (d) are determinate concepts, but combined they exclude one another, and it is this specific relationship of exclusion and incompatibility that makes (cd) an indeterminate and contradictory concept.224 According to the theory of Das Prinzip derWissenschaft the indeterminateness of the concept (cd) would have to have been cased by the internal properties of the concepts (c) and (d), but not their combination (cd).225 Hence, the combination of (c) and (d) into a contradictory concept (cd) disclosed hitherto undisclosed contradictions of (c) and (d) respectively.The indeterminateness of (cd) was thus the result of (c’s) and (d’s) internal relations to one another.226 The logical consequence of the theory expressed in Das Prinzip der Wissenschaft must have been, if it was applied to the example given inFilosofiskt lexikon, that either one or both of the concepts “circular” and “square” were indeterminate from the beginning, because otherwise it would be impossible to create a contradictory concept such as “circular square”.Accordingly, the theory espoused in Das Prinzip derWissenschaft is untenable, for according to it not even fully consistent and non-contradictory concepts could be held to be non-contradictory. For the possible combination of some up until now real concepts into unreal, indeterminate, contradictory concepts must mean that the logical consistency and ensuing reality of a concept was nothing but a mirage. a ca l l f o r s c i e n t i f i c p u r i t y 105 224 Hägerström, “Hägerström.”; “The Philosophy of Axel Hägerström.” 225 Hägerström, P. d.W., p. 106; Marc-Wogau, Studier till Axel Hägerströms filosofi, pp. 6062. 226 Hägerström, P. d.W., p. 106.
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