date

19 Feb. 1815 '. Use Didacologia
19 Feb. 1815 '. Use

Didacologia

2

Ch. Art & Science Division

'. Use

In the next place as to the denominations, divisions, and subdivisions, and the names given to the results.

It is only by a correspondent set of apposite names, that the relations that have place between different objects can be instructively and conveniently expressed, and thereby as far as by general words can be done, the nature, the true and distinctive nature, of those several objects made known.

By the most and all comprehensive term of every system, those properties are expressed which are common to all the individual objects which are understood to be designated by, and comprehended in, the import of that universal appellative. Divide that aggregate into two parts, taking care at the same time that, in one or other of those parts, every individual comprehended in the whole shall be included - by the names respectively given to those two parts, whatsoever properties are peculiar to the contents of each in contradistinction to the contents of the other, are designated. But in so far as, in addition to all those properties which it has in common with other objects, those which are peculiar to itself are known and understood, the nature of the object, be it what it may, is understood.

In addition to that vast assemblage of common properties which is designated by the universal name, the greater the number of the divisions and subdivisions which are thus made - while to the two lesser aggregates forming the result of each act of division, apposite denominations, expressive of a property by which the contents of each of the two compartments are distinguished from those of the other, are attached - the greater the number of those successive acts of division, the more clearly each one of the individual objects contained under them is rendered distinguishable from every other, with which, but for the distinctions thus brought to view, it might have been in danger of being confounded.

44
Similar Items
  • Title: [19 Feb. 1815 '. Use A Didacologia]
    Description: 19 Feb. 1815 '. Use A

    Didacologia Sec.3

    1

    Ch. Art & Science Division

    '. Use

    Uses of the foregoing Divisions.

    To what purpose all this ramification, all these divisions, subdivisions, and sub-subdivisions, to what purpose all this neology ? The words which to everybody are so familiar, of which the application is so easy, why seek to disturb the possession they have so long held of the field of art and science ?

    Answer To enable you /men/ whomsoever it may concern should you ever happen to be in the humour, not only to complete an all-comprehensive view of the field of art and science, but also an observation of the mutual relation and connexion of its several compartments, and their respective contents; at the same time to show in what way those contents are respectively of a nature to be regarded as interesting, and as such, as qualifying the whole system to make an adequate return, for any such labour as any person may feel himself disposed to employ in the examination of it.

    This view this observation the assemblage of names in use - so long as they are employed to the exclusion of a connected and consistent system of nomenclature, such as the foregoing has endeavoured to render itself - will not suffer to be taken.

    In the first place, as to the principle or source of division. The point of view in which it places the whole field is not merely the most interesting in which it is capable of being placed, but the only one to which in itself the appellation of interesting can with propriety be applied. Unless in so far as it means conducive to wellbeing - to the maximization of the aggregate mass of pleasure - to the minimization of the aggregate mass of pain, the word interesting is devoid of meaning.

    43
  • Title: [18 Feb. 1815 Didacologia Ch]
    Description: 18 Feb. 1815

    Didacologia

    Ch. Art & Science Division

    25

    IV. Sciences having for their subjects the predicaments of Number, Figure, and Quantity.

    Between /Among/ these /the/ three predicaments respectively designated by these three names, the nature and intimacy of the relation that has place, has already been brought to view. Of figure, the modifications are scarcely conceivable, nor, accordingly, clearly expressible, otherwise than by means of number; whilst quantity is a predicament including both, and, therefore, still more abstract than either.

    By the Greek-sprung word posology, the science of quantity, may, it is believed, and if so, now for the first time, not inappositely be distinguished.

    Melomorphic, or say, morphoscopic, and amelomorphic, having regard to figure, and not having regard to figure; to the one or other of these denominations will the whole contents of the field of posology be found referable.

    Of posology, the melomorphic, or morphoscopic branch has found in the word geometry (measurement of the earth) a denomination altogether familiar, but far from being co-extensively expressive. In the practice of measuring the earth may be found the origin of this branch of art and science, as well as one of its great uses. But besides the earth, it is, moreover, employed in the measuring of the rest of the visible universe. Not unfrequently, in the measuring of imaginary and unexemplified extension, i.e. in the measuring of nothing at all; and it is when thus employed, that those, by whom it is cultivated, seem most proud of it.

    Oristic, and aoristic, or more expressively, oristicosemeiotic and aoristicosemeiotic, determinately and indeterminately expressed - to one or other of these denominations, will the whole contents of the field of amelomorphic posology be found referable /expressible/.

    Of amclomorphic posology, the oristicosemeiotic branch has always had an appellative, no less apposite and expressive, than familiar in the word arithmetic i.e. the art and science which has numbers for its subject - the art of applying numbers to use, including the science of the properties of numbers, the aoristicosemeiotic, in the Arabic-sprung word algebra, an appellative not much less familiar, but altogether inapposite and unexpressive.

    31
  • Title: [5 Sept. 1814 Logic Ch. │ │]
    Description: 5 Sept. 1814

    Logic

    Ch. │ │ Methodization

    Division of Aggregates

    Linnæus

    3

    3

    3. For further illustration, he gives two other nests of aggregates: the one constituted by the divisions to which the territory of a political state has been found subjected; the other by the divisions to which the Military Establishment has been found subjected.

    Unfortunately, in both these instances the number of these successive acts of division and subdivision being altogether arbitrary, has, in different political states and in the same political state at different times, been different, and moreover as to the denominations which for the designation of them are employed by him, the language in which this work of his is written being the latin language, it is from that language that they were all of them, necessarily deduced. But in neither of those instances does the Latin language afford an adequate number of names of aggregates, the relation of which to each other in respect of capacity and amplitude were or are found by him determinate. {The Geographical or Topographical aggregates, which he employs, and which are constituted by portions of the Earth's surface, with their divisions and subdivisions, are, 1. Provinciæ, put as correspondent to Classis and Genus summum, 2. Territoria, put as correspondent to Ordo, and Genus intermedium; 3. Parocciæ, put as correspondent to Genus, and Genus præmium[?]; 4. Pagi, put as correspondent to Species; 5. Domicilium, put as correspondent to Varietas and to Individuum.

    317