JB_101_157.xml

Title: [31 July 1814 + '. 4 Logic Sect. 4]

Description: 31 July 1814 + '. 4

Logic Sect. 4

Ch. │ │ Aristotle Præcognita

'.2 Uses Utilitates

8

1

 31 July 1814 - Make Arist.'s Præcognita a separate Chapter. It will come best when the whole of J B's Præcognita have been displayed.

 Say Ch.1. Præcognita for descriptive delineations concerning Logic, according to the present work.

Ch.2. Præcognita concerning Logic, according to the Aristotelians.

'.I. Uses of Logic - Utilitates, + according to the Aristotelians.

1. As to the uses of Logic - viz. of their Logic - none though this topic is brought to view by them, have the Aristotelians been able to find: practice, they say, will bring them to view these uses. But if practice will, as they find it convenient to suppose, bring them to the view of the learner, why not to that of teachers: and if so it be that to his view it has brought them, why not particularize them here at once, as he has done in the case of all the other topics.

Indistinct indeed must have been the notions attached by these logicians to the word utilitas. Else instead of referring under the name of practice to the casual observation of each Scholar, how could they have avoided referring to the indication which they themselves had but that instant been giving. Necessary is this art, say they, to the acquisition of every discipline: i.e. of everything that is or can be the subject of instruction, by which if they mean any thing, every thing that is or can be the subject of any thing that ever did go or ever can go by any such name as either that of art or that of science. So many disciplines, so many uses - for each discipline a distinct intelligible and undeniable use: subsequently to which in relation to each such disciplines might have come the enquiry into the particular mode in which it administers to well-being. How much more instructive and satisfactory would this indication have been - how much more commensurate with the truth - how much more honourable to the art would have been such an indication of the uses, than the vague and self humiliating put off - Go look for them - What they are we can not tell you: if you have good luck some time or other you may find them or some of them of yourselves.

+  Use (most general) corresponds most to End. Uses particular may come at the end of the Præcognita.

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JB_101_159.xml

Title: [25 Sept. 1814 Logic Ch. │]

Description: 25 Sept. 1814

Logic

Ch. │ │ Aristotle's Præcognita

'.5 End - Finis End

8

2

'.4{II and III Uses and} End of Logic, according to the Aristotelians.

Knowledge of things - viz. either scientific knowledge alone, or this with the addition of unscientific - knowledge of things cognitio rerum, beyond this even, the pretensions of the Aristotelians - at any rate any distinct and explicit pretension, did not extend.

Far indeed however were their actual attainments - far even their actual researches, from coming up to these pretensions.

{The knowledge of} words - viz. the import of words, this was the utmost point - within this field was contained the sum total of their researches.

A certain sort of coincidence. To exhibit a demonstration, so they termed it - was with them the great work - the object and if attained the fruit of all their ingenuity and of all their labours.

This demonstration when it exhibited, what did it amount

to? an indication of a certain mode and degree of coincidence between the import of the two words? this and nothing more.

But this exploit, what did it require? It required that to all the several words employed the same import be annexed by the disputing parties. Suppose this identity to have place, then if the demonstration was correct, the opponent could not deny it without falling into a contradiction in terms. But this necessary condition suppose it in any part wanting: in this case no demonstration could take place: not so much as this faint semblance of, and spurious substitute for real knowledge.

Observation - experience, experiment, experience: these were the only processes by which real knowledge could be attained: and by the boasted art of logical demonstration, to what extent so ever employed, not a particle of knowledge was obtained through all or any one of these sources.[?]

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JB_101_160.xml

Title: [25 Sept 1814 Logic Ch. │ │]

Description: 25 Sept 1814

Logic

Ch. │ │ Aristotle's Præcognita

'.5.II End. Finis. End

9

3

Of this assuming science thus worthless was the end.

In truth it was not simply worthless - it was positively pernicious. It was pernicious by drawing aside and keeping mankind for so many ages out of the only really instructive track of study as abovementioned and in this uninstructive one.

But out of an ill-directed pursuit it will sometimes happen that useful results may collaterally - and as it were by a side wind be, brought to light.

Though of all the propositions thus demonstrated or demonstrable the value was is and ever will be equal to 0 - though logical demonstration, the fruit of all this labour, was and is mere delusion, yet of the operations which had no other object than the formation and maturation of this fruit, many there are which have been and will ever continue to be found, applicable to and continually applied to real and most important uses.

The demonstration of the Aristotelian may in this respect be compared to the philosophers stone of the Heraclitic philosophers. The stone was a non-entity: but in digging for this non-entity, real entities pregnant with real and important uses were discovered in no inconsiderable numbers.

* Substances applicable to the purposes of medicine dying,

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