COMPARISON, in a general sense, the consideration of the relation between two persons or things, when opposed to each other, by which we judge of their agreement or difference.
COMPARISON of Ideas, an act of the mind, whereby it compares its ideas one with another, in respect of extent, degree, time, place, or any other circumstances. See IDEA.
Brutes seem not to have this faculty in any great degree: they have, probably, several ideas distinct enough; but cannot compare them farther than as to some sensible circumstances annexed to the objects themselves; the power of comparing general ideas, which we observe in men, we may probably conjecture they have not at all.