31 July 1814

Logic

Ch. │ │ Aristotle's Præcognita

'.1. Sanderson, not Aristotle

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Saunderson's Compendium is accordingly the work to which as often as the question may happen to present itself what on this point has been said by the school of Aristotle reference will be made. Saunderson's Compendium is accordingly the work in which should any supposed imperfections be found in that system, the proof and exemplification of such imperfections will be deduced.

Meantime what is far from impossible is - that in this or that instance an imperfection, which in this way his English disciple comes to be imputed to the Master, would if justly chargeable, be found chargeable not on the Master, but only on this disciple. But should it turn out that in turn[?] and this[?] instance this sort of injustice such as it is chance now and then to be committed, not that this is any other than a mere supposition for the purpose of the argument, - what would it matter? where would be the real, the practical mischief? For one who for instruction resorts all along or even to any considerable extent to the original, some dozen or some score will never look further than to this or some other, most probably to this the most instructive compend. Taking the original for its subject, the strictest[?] comment would be a comment - not on the art but on the language.

If on the occasion of any such imperfections reference were made not to the Greek original but[?] to this or that Greek or Latin Commentator or abridger, Volumes and Volumes might thus be written and none of them of any use.

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