Abstract of Logic, Book 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Of the Invention, or finding out of Dialectical Arguments, or Topical Places and Rules.
Ax. 1. NOW to the Invention or finding out of Probable or Dialectical Arguments belong Place and Rule.
A. 2. A Place is a Seat or certain Common Note, by whoſe Admonition an Argument is found.
Ax. 3. A Rule a Canon, or Propoſition containing the Reaſon of the Conſequence of Dialectical Syllogiſm, &c.
Ax. 4. The Diſtribution of the Arguments here to be uſed, viz. in Dialectical Diſputations, is uſually into Artificial and Inartificial; that is, into thoſe of Art, to be drawn from the Conſideration of the Parts of the Queſtion, and Teſtimonies, which are to be found without. Now the firſt,
Ax. 5. Are to be uſed for the Confirming or Refelling of all ſorts of Problemes alike; that is, in the ſame manner, being no other than Teſtimonies; But the Artificial not, but may be ſaid to be of two ſorts; viz. thoſe for the Confirming and Refelling of Notional, and thoſe for Confirming and Refelling of ſuch as we have call'd real Problemes, becauſe concerned about real things.
Ax. 6. Now thoſe of the firſt kind, viz. for the Confirming and Refelling of Notional Problemes, are always taken from the Nature or Propriety of that Affection or 2d Notion, concerning which it is query'd in the Probleme.
1. §. Which, or elſe ſome Canon belonging to it being placed in the Major, an Aſſumption being made, the controverted Affection is prov'd to be in the Subject; as becauſe Air is the Subject Matter of Wind, we prove it not to be its Genus; and becauſe Immortality is the Affection of Life Eternal, we prove it not to be its Genus; both which Arguments lean upon this Rule, viz. That that which is the Subject or Propriety of a thing, cannot be its Genus, &c. given us Cap. 11. of the firſt Book. And ſo Divines make it appear, that good Works are not to be the Cauſe of our Juſtification; becauſe every cauſe is before its Effect; But good Works are after our Juſtification, and therefore not its Cauſe. And this Argumentation leans upon this Foundation, Theoreme 3. Cap. 15. of the firſt Book, viz That every Cauſe is before its Cauſed in Nature and Knowledge, &c. Such Syllogiſms as theſe Ariſtotle calls Book 2. Poſt. Cap. 8. Syllogiſms Logical, that is, Notional; and the Uſe of them is very great in all Diſcipline.
Ax. 9. Arguments of the other ſort, viz. for Proving or Refelling of real Problemes, are always taken from the Affections belonging to the Nature of the Subject or Predicate, as from their Places.
Ax. 10. Of which thoſe are the beſt, which are taken from the Nature of the Predicate; becauſe not ſought whether the Subject be, but Predicate; or whether the Predicate be in the Subject or not, &c.
1. §. Now for Examples of them both, ſuppoſe any one ſhould undertake to prove that a thing was not mutual or reciprocal, becauſe not de meo, tuum, that is, from mine, thine: The Argument wou'd then be taken from the Notation of the Predicate: But if that Logick is an Art directing the Reaſon, becauſe ſo call'd from foreign, that is, Reaſon or Speech, from that of the Subject, &c.
The Term Logick being no leſs the Subject in the laſt, than the Term Mutual the Predicate in the former Propoſition, and ſo in other Inſtances of the like Nature: But to proceed,
Ax. 11. Arguments are either Abſolute, or Compared.
Ax. 12. And of the Firſt, ſome are Conſentaneous, others Diſſentaneous.
Ax. 13. Arguments Conſentaneous are thoſe which agree with ſome Part of the Queſtion.
Ax. 14. And thoſe are taken either from the Name, or the Thing.
Ax. 15. Of thoſe from the Name there are two Places, viz. Notation and Conjugates.
Ax. 16. From the Thing, Nine, viz. Definition, Genus, Species, Whole, Part, Cauſe, Cauſed, Subject and Adjunct; at leaſt theſe are the chief, to which all the reſt may be referred.
Ax. 17. Now Arguments Diſſentaneous are taken from the Oppoſites, of which there are Five Places, viz. Diſparates, Contraries, Relateds, Privatives, and Contradictings.
Ax. 18. Of Arguments Compared, alſo there are the like Number of Places, viz. Major, Minor, Equal, Like and Unlike.
Ax. 19. Laſt of all, of Teſtimonies, ſome are Divine, ſome Humane. And now come we to Canons; and firſt thoſe which belong to the Places of Conſentaneous Arguments, of which we ſhall entreat in the next Chapter.