Abstract of Logic, Book 2 · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. Of Method.
Ax. 1. THere remains yet Order or Method to be entreated of; And that is, an apt Diſpoſition of Things belonging to the ſame Head; ſo as that they may be the beſt and moſt eaſily underſtood, and the moſt firmly imprinted upon the Memory.
Ax. 2. For which End, we are ever to ſet thoſe things before, which conduce to the Knowledge of the Following: At leaſt, are better underſtood than they.
Ax. 3. Now Method is either Natural or Arbitrary.
Ax. 4. Natural, in which the Order of Nature and Diſtinct Knowledge of Things is obſerved.
Ax. 5. In which we muſt obſerve in the firſt Place, that all the Parts are to be Homogeneous: that is, not Impertinent, or Foreign to the Subject.
1. §. By which Means, we not only confirm that Rule, that Diſciplines ought not to be mixed: So as in Mathematicks we are not to uſe Ethical Demonſtrations: Or in Ethicks, Mathematical, &c. But this alſo, viz. That every thing ought to be ſet in its proper Place; And ſo thoſe things which are reciprocated with the Genus to the Genus; and with the Species to the Species, ſhould be attributed: And that all things be Reciprocal as much as may be.
2. §. And indeed this Rule is to be obſerv'd in the very Precepts which belong to the Eſſence of Diſciplines; But yet in the Comments where the Precepts of them are explain'd, and confirm'd, the Obſervation of it is not ſo Neceſſary: For it often happens to the Maſter teaching Phyſick, that he is forc'd to fetch from Logick, and Ethicks, Phyſick. Moreover in Divinity and all other Diſciplines, how much of Neceſſity muſt they fetch from Philoſophy for the explaining their Controverſies, which yet becomes no Part at all of thoſe Diſciplines? Which, if that Cenſurer of Ariſtotle had better conſider'd, he would, without all Queſtion, have judg'd more impartially of the Writings and Method of that admirable Philoſopher; in which he diſtinguiſhes not the Precepts from the Comments that are made upon them; which, in in the firſt Place he ought to have done.
Ax. 6. Now in Natural Method we are always to proceed from Univerſals to Particulars, and in that Progreſs all the Parts are to be connected together by apt Bonds of Tranſition.
1. §. Which Progreſs is to be inſtituted by Diviſion whoſe Parts are to be joyn'd together by apt Bonds of Tranſition, which forms how much they help the Memory of the Reader, is almoſt incredible.
Ax. 7. Method of Nature, in the next Place, is either Total or Partial.
Ax. 8. Total, That in which ſome whole Science is diſpoſed.
Ax. 9. And this is either Synthetic or Analytic.
Ax. 10. Synthetic is that which proceeds from the moſt ſimple Principles, to thoſe things which are compounded of thoſe Principles.
Ax. 11. And ſo the Speculative Diſciplines are to be handled.
Ax. 12. Analytie, That, which beginning from the End proceeds to the next Means; and ſo from theſe to the more Remote, till at laſt it arrive to the Firſt and moſi Simple.
Ax. 13. And thus are Arts and Diſciplines Practical to be entreated of.
1. §. The Diſciplines Speculative have no end which is diverſe from themſelves; but the very Knowledge of the Things propoſed is their End: For in that the Mind acquieſces; But Arts and Diſciplines Practical reſt not there, viz. in the Knowledge of the Thingt propoſed, but have ſome farther End, viz. Work, Practice, or Operation that is agreeable to that Knowledge. Whence is it, that the Sciences Theoretical, ſuch as Phyſicks, Metaphyſicks, Mathematicks, &c. are diſpoſed in Synthetick Method, proceeding from the firſt Principles to thoſe which are formed or made of them; and that firſt in the Genus and then in the Species, till at laſt it is come to the loweſt Species of all. But in Arts, ſuch as Grammar, Rhetorick, Logick Medicine, Architecture; and in practical Diſciplines; ſuch as Ethicks, Politicks, Oeconomicks, &c. We contrariwiſe proceed from the End to the Means: For that which is firſt in the doing of things, is always laſt in the Deſign or Intention of them: And ſo on the Contrary. Wherefore ſince the ſaid Diſciplines proceed from the Means to the End in Acting, (for the Architect firſt lays his Foundation, then prepares his Timber, Rafters, Beams, &c and of theſe makes the Houſe,) Itt follows in the Deſign that the End has the firſt Place; and of the Means, thoſe the next which are laſt brought to paſs. For theſe Diſciplines keep not the Order of Action but Deſign: For the Deſign is nothing elſe but the very Practical Knowledge of Things which are propos'd. And certainly the End in Practical Diſciplines has it ſelf no otherwiſe, i. e. is no otherwiſe to the Means than are the Hypotheſes, or Principles in the Mathematicks to the Concluſions which are gathered from them: As Ariſtotle ſays Book 7. Eth. C. 8.
2. In both theſe we are to obſerve the Order of Nature: In the Synthetic, that of Nature Generating or Effecting Analytick, that of Intending or Deſigning. Piccolominy therefore muſt be under a Miſtake, Cap. 21, Introd. and Part 7. Com. Pot. Where, altho' he confeſſes that Synthetic Method is fitteſt for Speculative, and the other for Arts and Practical Diſciplines, yet he will needs have it, That all Diſciplines will admit both of One and the Other, and Accordingly in his 10 Degrees of Moral Philoſophy he has Obſerved the Synthetic; but not the moſt to his Purpoſe, as Zabarella ſolidly proves Book 2. of his Apol. Cap. 4. & ſeq.
3. Galen ſets down three ſorts of Method; and explaining two of them, adds a Third, viz. Definition. But it is not neceſſary; nay indeed, it cannot be, that any other ſhould be Obſerved in Science, but the Synthetic and Analytick. For Definition is not ſo much Method, as an Inſtrument or Part of it. For all Method takes its Beginning from the Definition of ſome Whole; and Dividing goes on to the Parts and Species's of it, which are contained under that Whole. More againſt Galen concerning this Definitive Method you may ſee in Zabarella, Book 2. Meth. Cap. 4.
Ax. 14. A Partial Method is then, when ſome Part of a Diſcipline is diſpoſed; or particular Theme ſeverally handled.
1. §. For there's a two-fold Uſe or Conſideration of Method Partial: For either it may be conſider'd as it is, a Part of the Total Method, or as it is a Method of ſome Theme ſeparately and apart by it ſelf to be handled. As it is a Part of the Whole; This One thing is to be precepted (more than what we have already ſaid in the general) to wit, that it often happens in a Part of a Diſcipline whoſe Whole is in Method Synthetical, that the Analytick Order may be kept: And ſo on … other Hand, in the Parts of Analytick, that … Synthetick. As for Inſtance: Phyſick is Compoſed in Synthetick Order, if the Whole be conſid…d; And yet in that Part where we entreat of Animate Bodies, a reſolutive may well enough be kept, viz. Beginning from the Operations which are the End of the Animated Body: And ſo going on to the Cauſes and Principles, which are the Faculties of the Mind, and Temperament and Organical Parts of that Body, &c. In like Manner the Arts of Medicine, Grammar, Logick, if look'd upon in the Whole, are laid down in an Analytick Method; But in the Parts of them the Synthetick is obſerved. Phyſiology, which is a Part of Medicine, is delivered in a Synthetick Order; and in Grammar we firſt entreat of Letters, Sylables, then Words, and Laſtly, Speech and its Conſtruction.
And ſo in Logick. Firſt, we treat of Themes Simple, and then Complex; which, certainly, is foreign, that is, to Compoſe, or Proceed in Compoſed Order. In ſo much, yet, as theſe Arts are begun from the Notion of the End, and ſo go on to the Means they are ſaid in the Whole, to be diſpoſed in an Analytical Order: As Zabarella has well obſerved Lib. 2. de Math. Cap. 20. &c. The reſt may be ſought for out of the Inſtitutions.
Note, the Chapters of Sophiſms and Method were principally turn'd by another Hand.
Finis Libri Secundi.
End of the text · Franco Burgersdijck, Abstract of Logic (1697)