Abstract of Logic, Book 2 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of Syllogiſm Dialectical or Probable.
Ax. 1. HAving done with Syllogiſm in reſpect of Form, we are now to conſider it in reſpect to its Matter, or ſome certain Conditions of it; and in order to the diverſe Effects which follow from the diverſe Conditions of that Matter.
Ax. 2. And in this reſpect will Syllogiſm be divided into true and falſe; and true into Dialectical and Apodictical.
COMMENTARY.
1. §. The Parts of the Diviſion will be prov'd thus; Syllogiſm leads either to Error, as we ſhall ſhew hereafter, or Truth. If to Truth, it either Generates Science or Opinion, or ſome other Aſſent, which is not Science. If Science, it is call'd Demonſtrative, or Apodictical, as Cap. 2. Soph. Elench. And if Opinion or other Aſſent beſides Science, it is called Dialectical, &c.
Ax. 3. So that a Dialectical Syllogiſm is nothing more than a Syllogiſm Generating Opinion, or any other Aſſent beſides Science. Or, as Ariſtotle explains himſelf Book 1. of his Top. Cap. 1. arguing out of Probables: And he is thought the beſt Dialectick who can beſt defend his own, and dilute or waſh away the Opinions of his Adverſary, &c.
Ax. 4. And in treating of this ſort of Syllogiſm. we are to conſider of Queſtions, Propoſitions, and Invention of Arguments.
Ax. 5. And a Queſtion here may be any thing, provided it contradict not Piety, good Manners or common Senſe.
1. §. For he that ſhall call in Queſtion, whether God be to be worſhipped, or Parents Honoured, or the Magiſtrates to be obeyed; ought rather to be puniſhed than followed with Dialectical Arguments. So he that ſha… doubt whether the Snow be white, is not otherwiſe to be convinc'd than by the Teſtimony of his outward Senſe; which he who disbelieves, what is i… that he will believe? &c.
Ax. 6. So that concerning the Subject of the Dialectical Problemes, we need not much to be ſollicitous; an… their Attributes are either of the firſt or ſecond Notions; of which thoſe conſtitute Real, theſe Notional Problemes, &c.
Ax. 7. A Real is when the Attribute of th… Queſtion is real; as, is a Place a Superficies, or ſo? A Notional when a Notional; as, is Superficies the Gonus of Place, or ſo? Becauſe Genus is not a true thing but a ſecond Notion, or Logical, and only feign in the Mind, whereas a Superficies is a true thin… and not feign'd in the Mind, &c.
Ax. 8. Real, again are either abſolute or compared.
Ax. 9. Abſolute, that in which ſought whether t… Attribute agrees to the Subject or no.
Ax. 10. Compared, when two or more Subject being propoſed, it is asked, which the Attribute … grees or diſagrees moſt to; or two or more Attributes, whether of them agrees more or moſt to … Subject, &c.
1. §. For Example; When ſaught whether Glery to be numbered amongſt our good things, it is an A… ſolute Probleme; when, whether Virtue or Glory a moſt to be deſired? or Alexander more Valiant or T… rate, a Compared.
Ax. 11. Problemes Dialectical, of what kind ſoeve… may be taken out of all Diſciplines whatſoever.
Ax. 12. Propoſitions Dialectical are to be true; … leaſt probable, not Paradoxal; that is againſt the common or receiv'd Opinion: For how ſhall the Reſpondent grant that which is againſt the common or r… ceiv'd Opinion; and which, it may be, he judges to be falſe; But let us take ſome Notes from the Learned Hereboord, and ſo end this Chapter.
Notes and Obſervations from the Learned Hereboord having Relation to this Chapter.
1. A Dialectical Syllogiſm may alſo thus be defin'd. A Dialectical Syllogiſm is that which begets Opinion, Human Faith, or Doubt, or any other Aſſent beſides Science or Error, which diſtinguiſhes it likewiſe from the Sophiſtical Syllogiſm.
2. A Syllogiſm Dialectical is alſo by another Name called Topical, from the Greek Word foreign, Place; in Latin Probabilis, that is, Probable or Contingent; becauſe tho' it produces a true, yet is it an uncertain and infirm Aſſent, becauſe its Propoſitions tho' true, are yet Contingent, as may appear by what is ſaid above.
3. When a Paradox is ſaid to be a Probleme true againſt the common Opinion, it is not to be underſtood only of that of the Unlearned or Vulgar, but alſo of the Multitude of the Lettered, who have taken up with Principles Ancient, and not ſo well examined, ſuch as that, viz. the Earth moves; which, tho' it be true, yet may it be ſo againſt the common Opinion, and therefore a Paradox.
4. A Term of Art ſignifies no more than this, viz. a Term proper to every Art. So Metonymy and Synecdoche are Terms of Art, viz. Rhetorical; Meridian, Horizon, Zodiac Aſtronomical; Genus and Species Logical, &c. And this brings us to the next Conſideration, viz. that