The Art of Logic, Book 3 · Part 15
OF METHOD, OR ORDER.
HItherto hath been the directnesse of discourse Illative.
Now followeth the directnesse of discourse Ordinative, which is an act of the minde or understanding proceeding from one part of Doctrine to another, by conferring them one with another, & knitting them together with the help of the precepts of the Method.
Method is the constitution of the parts of Doctrine, froma a certain beginning unto a certain end.
And it is either
Artificial. a
Inartificial. b
Artificial, is which is Instituted according to the Nature of Things, and Rules of art.
The Canons hereof are five.
1 Let no Part be wanting, none Overplus.
2 Let the proceeding of Method imitate the natural proceding and order of things; going on from things first and best known, to things after.
3 The parts before and after distinct between themselves, must agree with a kind of Harmony, in a certain beginning▪ and end, or scope.
4 The knitting together of things before and after, should be shewed in the Chapters, and Heads of the Treatise by Bands and Forms of Transition.
5 Let all the parts of the Method be of the same kinde.
Method also is either
Compositive, Synthetical. a
Resolutive, Analytical. bb
The Canons of the Preceps of a Discipline are two.
1 Let every Precept be, Definition, Division, or Canou.
2 Let the Precepts be True, Methodical, Profitable, and informed with proper and perspicuous words.
Compositive Method, is wherein the parts of a contemplativea Discipline are so disposed as that progresse is made from the Universal Subject of contemplation unto the particulars, and so from Simples to Compounds.
The Canons hereof are five,
1 The parts of Compositive Method are three; First, the Subject. Secondly, The beginnings or causes. Thirdly, The affections.
2 The subject of a Science is necessarily one in Unity of Collection, and of Universality
3 The Subject is foreknown. First, That it is, Secondly, What it is. Thirdly That it hath certain Properties, or Affections.
4 The beginnings are foreknown that they are, and what they signifie.
5 The Affections are foreknown what they signifie.
Resolutive Method, is, wherein the parts of an operativebb discipline are disposed so as that from the knowledge of the end, the progresse is made to the knowledge of the beginnings or means, by which that end may be brought into his subject,
The Canons hereof are six.
1 The Parts of this Method are three. First, the end to to brought in. Secondly, the Subject whereinto it is brought. Thirdly, the beginnings or means by which the end is brought in.
2 The end is foreknown, First, that it is, or that it may be produced: and Secondly, What it is.
3 The end hath double accidents; Of which, some pertain to the finding of the means by which it should be produced, and they are to be known at the first; Others pertain to the Possession and conservation of the end, and that is not needfull to be foreknown.
4 The Unity of an operative discipline, dependeth on the Unity of the end.
5 The Subject is foreknown. First, that it is. Secondly, that it is capable of the end. Thirdly, that it hath accidents, which pertain next unto the end.
6 The means are not foreknown, but are handled in proceeding from Universals to Particulars; from Simples to Compounds; so as that they be profitable, and sufficient for the end.
Particular Method, is wherein a certain and special themeb is disposed.
And it is either of a theme,
Simple a
Compound. b
Method of a Simple, is, in which a simple Theme is handleda and declared.
And it is either
Principal. 1
Lesse Principal. 2
Principal, is, in which a full Progresse is made from simples to more compounded.
This Progresse hath nine parts.
1 The name or word of every simple thing is considered, whether Concrete, or Abstract; Withall the definition of the name is given, &c. If it be ambiguous, it is distinguished.
2 The Genus of the thing is found out by looking in the predicamental order.
3 The causes are found out and put; In substances, in respect of the Essence, Matter, and Form, in respect of the Existence, Efficient, and End; In accidentals, because Essence and Existence fall together, the Efficient and Finall causes, the Object and the Subject are found out.
4 If it be a singular accident, also the antecedents, consequents, and other circumstances are considered.
5 The whole definition is made, viz. divers, even as the Theme is either Accident, or Substance.
6 The proper accidents and Effects of this thing are proposed, and often also the adjacents and concomitants are taught.
7 The theme is divided into the parts chiefly integrall; For the division into the Species, if the theme be a Genus, is kept till the last place, if one would handle the matter at large.
8 The things akin unto it are laid down.2
9 The things diverse and opposite are added.
Lesse Principal, is, when first the Definition is laid down,b and then it is resolved by parts.
The Method of a compound or conjoyned theme, is, wherein the handling of a conjoynt question or probleme is instituted.
The parts thereof are eight.
1 A right constitution of the probleme or state of the controversie.
2 A choice or setting down of a position, Negative; or Affirmative, which you will defend.
3 A foreknowledge of both extreams, viz. of the antecedent and consequent; as touching Limitations, Definitions, Distinctions, and so the presupposition of thine Hypothesis.
4 Confirmation of thy position.
5 A laying down of the adversaries position.
6 A foreknowledge and refutation of the adversaties distinctions.
7 A solution of the adversaries Objections.
8 A repetition of the proved position, and a collection of consequences or conclusions.
In artificial Method, is, which is instituted not so much byb the Order of Nature and rules of Art, as by the circumstance of the Learner and Auditor at the discretion and pleasure of the Teacher and Learner.
And thus much of the whole frame and body of the art of Logick.