Chap. III. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 3C 



CHAP. III. 



The Necejfity of underftanding the Principles of Logic ^ in order to under-' 

 fiand the Principles of Sciettce and Demonjlration — The greateji Cr- 

 nius^ ivithout teachings not fiifficient for that Purpofe — Ariftotle hoiv 

 taught — Caje of the Philojophers before his Time ivho had not learned 

 to analyfe Reafoning — General Propofttions^ either Axioms^ or Propofi-^ 

 tions to be demonflratcd — Nature of the Evidence of Axioms may be 

 explained — This is bef done ivith refpeB to the Axioms of Geometry— ^ 

 Geometry the fir fl Science among Men — and the Reafcns njuhy it ivas 

 fo — In/Iances from the Axioms of Euclid — Evidence of thofe Axioms 

 the immediate Perception of a Contradi^ion^ if they ivere not true—^ 

 Confcioufiefs the Foundation of the Perception of Truth — Therefore 



~ the Brutes have no fuch perception — Axioms and Demonflration in <?- 

 ther Sciences as ivcll as Mathematics — In/lances of Axioms in Phyftcs 

 ^nd Metaphyfics — Tnftances of Axioms relating to the other Categories 

 as ivell as to ^lantity^ 



H A T I have faid in the preceding chapter concerning the 

 connedion of the praedicate or attribute with the fubjed, in 

 propofitions of which both the terms are general, is not to be under- 

 ftood by a reader who does not know the difference betwixt Senfe 

 and Intellect, Generals and Particulars, Genus and Species, Accident 

 and Subflance ; for, (I mufl repeat it again, tho' I fliould give offence,) 

 let a man flatter himfelf as much as he will, and think as highly as he 

 pleafes of his genius and natural parts, I will ufe the freedom to tell 

 him, that, without the knowledge of thefc firft Principles of logic, he 



. C c c 2 never 



