Abstract of Logic, Book 1 · Chapter 23 – Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIII. Of Order, and of that which is ſaid to be firſt, laſt, and together with.
Ax. 1. ORder is that, according to which, any thing is ſaid to be before, or after another, or alſo together with it.
1. §. Of that which is ſaid to be before or after and their Modes Ariſtotle treats Cap. 12. of the Categories, of thoſe together with Cap. 13.
Ax. 2. Firſt and laſt things are ſaid to be five Ways, viz. in Time, Nature, Diſpoſition, Dignity, and Cognition.
Ax. 3. And in time, as that according to which a thing is ſaid to be Elder, or of greater Antiquity than another thing.
Ax. 4. Nature two Ways, viz. in Conſecution of Exiſtence, and Cauſality.
1. §. Ariſtotle indeed affirms that alone to be firſt in Nature which is firſt in Cauſality: But that alſo ſeems to be reaſonably ſo call'd which is firſt in Conſecution of Exiſtence, viz.
Ax. 5. That from which Conſecution of Exiſtence is not reciprocated. And,
1. §. This Simplicius interprets in this manner: That, ſays he, is ſaid to be firſt, which, another thing being ſuppoſed, is it ſelf ſuppoſed: But that ſuppoſed, that other thing is not ſuppoſed. For Example: Suppoſing the Binary Number, you ſuppoſe alſo Unity; but ſuppoſing Unity, you ſuppoſe not the Binary Number; and ſuppoſing Man, you ſuppoſe alſo Animal; but ſuppoſing Animal, you do not ſuppoſe alſo Man: Unity therefore, is before the Binary Number, and Animal before Man: And likewiſe every Genus before its Species, and Species its Individual, as to Conſecution of Exiſtence.
Ax. 6. That which is before in Cauſality, is that which is reciprocated according to the Conſecution of Exiſtence, and is every way the Cauſe why the other exiſts.
1. §. So the Sun is before its Light, and Thing Truth of Speech. For altho' the Sun and Light, Thing and Truth of Speech may be reciprocated according to Conſecution of Exiſtence, and mutually take away, and ſuppoſe each other: Yet the Sun is the Cauſe of its Light, and the Thing of Verity in Speech: Becauſe as the Thing is, or is not, the Oration is ſaid to be true or falſe. In this manner, therefore, the Sun is ſaid to be before its Light, and the Thing Verity in Speech.
2. §. That which is before in Cauſality, or Nature cauſing, farther, by the Teſtimony of Ariſtotle Book 2. of the Parts of An. Cap. 1. is ſaid to be two Ways, viz. either by Nature ſo generating or intending: That which is firſt, by Order of Nature generating, that is, which is moſt ſimple: As, the Parts the Whole; Principles and Elements than the things which out of ſuch Principles and Elements are made. Of Nature intending; that which is the moſt perfect, and for whoſe ſake and Cauſe other things were made. As the Whole than its Parts; that which conſiſts of Principles and Elements than the Principles and Elements themſelves, and every End than its Means, &c.
Ax. 7. That is ſaid to be Firſt in Diſpoſition, which is the leaſt diſtant from the beginning.
1. §. So the Exordium in a Speech, is before its Propoſition; the Propoſition, the Narration; the Narration, the Confirmation; the Confirmation, the Refutation; and the Refutation, the Epilogue, &c. And, in every Diſcipline, that which is firſt delivered.
Ax. 8. That in Dignity is always firſt, which is of the more Worth or Value. So the Magiſtrate is before the Subject; the Father the Children; the Maſter, the Servant; Gold, Silver; Virtue, Gold, &c.
Ax. 9. In Cognition, that which is moſt eaſily known.
1. §. Of this Mode no Mention is made by Ariſtotle in this Place: But in Book 4. of the Metaph Cap. 11. and Book 6. of the Top. Cap. 4. he does mention it: Where that which is firſt in Cognitions, he calls more known; or rather, that I may ſo ſay, more noſcible. A Thing is ſo ſaid, two Ways, viz. either ſimply, or in regard of us. That is ſaid to be ſo ſimply, which is ſo according to Reaſon, and them in whom Reaſon is rightly diſpoſed. To us which as to the Senſes and vulgarly. Thoſe things, therefore, are ſaid to be ſimply more known which, by their own Natures, are firſt; as Univerſals, Singulars, or leſs Univerſals: Parts than their Whole; Principles, than thoſe things which are made of ſuch Principles: But to us, which are Poſterior in Nature, and more Neighbouring upon the Senſes. Farther, thoſe things which are ſimply ſo, are more known according to a diſtinct and perfect Knowledge: For a diſtinct and perfect Knowledge follows the Order of Nature and lies in them which are endued with a well-diſpoſed Mind: But thoſe things which to us, are according to a confuſed and imperfect Knowledge, which takes its Original from the Senſes, &c.
Ax. 10. Things alſo are ſaid to be together as many Ways as firſt: But Two are more uſed than the reſt, and thoſe are Time and Nature.
Ax. 11. Thoſe things are ſaid to be together, in time which exiſt at the ſame time, and that may be ſaid,
1. §. Two Ways, viz. Simply or according to ſomething. Thoſe things are ſaid to be together ſimply, which take their Originals together at the ſame time, as Equals. Some reſpect, of which the one begins before the other ends: As ſuch as live at the ſame time, or are Contemporaries. So Ariſtotle and Plato are ſaid to be Contemporaries, altho' Plato was born before him, and died before him.
Ax. 12. Together in Nature alſo, Things may be ſaid two Ways, viz. ſome ſimply or abſolutely; and others according to ſomething, or in ſome reſpect, And,
Ax. 13. Such things are ſaid to be ſo abſolutely, which are reciprocated indeed according to Conſecution of Exiſtence; but yet, not ſo as that the one ſhould be the Cauſe why the other exiſts.
1. §. So the Relate and Correlate are ſaid to be together in Nature, and two Effects depending upon the ſame next Cauſe. As, to be riſible, and capable of Diſciplines, in Man.
Ax. 14. Thoſe things are ſaid to be together according to ſomething, or with reſpect to ſome third, which are oppoſed under the ſame Genus, in Diviſion each to the other.
1. §. So Man and Beaſt are ſaid to be together, nor ſimply, and of themſelves, but in reſpect of Animal: For Animal is predicated of both together, and not firſt of the one, and then of the other. In which the Synonymous Genus is diſtinguiſhed from the Homonymous; becauſe this is not predicated together of its Species's; but firſt of one, and then of the other. And thus far of Affections of ſimple Theme, as well the ſimple as the conjoyned.
CHAP. XXIV. Of Interpretation in general, and of Noun and Verb.
Ax. 1. INterpretation is an Articulate Voice, ſignifying the Conceptions of the Mind according to Inſtitution.
1. §. Of Voices, the one is Articulate whilſt the other not. That we call. Articulate which conſiſts of ſo many Syllables, or Letters, as ſo many Joynts: So that it may be written, as, Man, Animal, &c. Inarticulate, which conſiſts not of Syllables and Letters, as the other, and may not be written, as Lowing, Whynnying, Weeping and Laughing, &c. According to Inſtitution, that is, the Arbitrary Uſe of Men, which uſe the ſame Society, in whoſe Power it is, to give Force and Law to Speech. Or Interpretation might have been defin'd in this Manner, viz. Interpretation is a Symbol conſiſting of an Articulate Voice, ſignifying the Conception of the Mind according to Inſtitution, Which brings us to the next Obſervation.
Ax. 2. That Interpretation muſt be perſpicuous, that is, diſtinct, proper, and uſed.
Ax. 3. Interpretation is either Word or Speech. And ſo we proceed to the twenty fifth Chapter. viz. that of Etymologies and Conjugates.
1. §. Speech is either perfect or imperfect. Perfect is that that abſolves the Sentence; an Imperfect is not.