17 Oct. 1814

Logic

Ch. │ │ Invention & Judgment

'.3 Helps to all

*7

*2

 Added 17 Oct 1814. Quere whether to add these to the list of separate rules?

Ought not this to be applied to the assistance and direction of the judgment? See Ch. Methodization under that head:

Rule. In taking a survey of practice, distinguish in it as many distinguishable points as the nature of the case appears to afford, and on each of those points, try its utility and propriety by its relation to the end.

Examples. The field of medical practice is a field in which many examples indicative of the utility of this rule might be collected. In the comparatively antient system of pharmacy may be found medicines in the composition of which drugs to the amount of twenty or thirty different sorts, of which, by comparatively recent observation, experience and experiment all but two or three have been found either wholly inoperative or unconducive to the end.

In every part of the field, in which the practice has not yet been thus dissected, and its several distinguishable parts or points[?] confronted with the proper end, uninfluencing circumstances and even obstructive circumstances, i.e. obstacles, may be seen confounded with promotive causes, and the result be it what it may, ascribed without distinction to their conjunct agency: and, in this way, the character of promotive causes ascribed to uninfluencing and even to obstructive causes.

Of this mode of confusion, examples will naturally be to be found in abundance in the system of government established in every country, and in particular in that branch which regards constitutional law. Of whatsoever measure of prosperity the state may be supposed to be in the enjoyment of, as many abuses and imperfections as by the theory or practice of it have place, will by all those who profit by them, be of course placed more or less confidently and explicitly upon the list of promotive causes.

See the work on Fallacies.

349