Pleafures of Reo/omng. [Book X. 



petition become more vivid, and acquire more force 

 if aflbciated with pleafurable fenfations, it follows chat 

 it will require much force to overcome this flavery, 

 which the mind fabricates for itfelf, and that no lefs 

 than demonftration from an actual appeal to the fenfes, 

 or from acknowledged principles, will be able to undo 

 itf. 



The pleafures of fuccefsful reafoning refult, ift, 

 From the action it gives to the mind ; 2diy, From the 

 pleafure connected with the end we propofe to ourfelves 

 from the investigation. In fact there is a pleafure attendant 

 on the accomplimment of every end or defign; for as 

 ail the firft actions of men have a tendency to the gra- 

 tification of their appetites, and the fulfilling of this 

 defign has ever been attended with agreeable fenfa- 

 tions, we expect the fame on the accomplifhment of 

 every intention or action whatever. 



f The following may be taken .as a general abftradl of the 

 moil common fallacies which occur in reafoning. 



lu. Taking an accidental conjunction of things for a neceflhry 

 connection; as when from an accident we infer a property; when- from 

 aa example we infer a rule ; when from a fingle aft we infer a habit, 

 zd, Taking that abfolutely, \vhich ought to be taken compara- 

 tively, or with certain limitations. The conftrucYion of language 

 often leads into this fallacy; for in all languages it is common to 

 ufe abfnlute or general terms, to fignify things which carry in 

 them foine fecret comparifon ; or to ufe unlimited terms to fignify 

 what, from its nature, muft be limited. 3d, Taking for the canfe 

 an occafzon Or concomitant, ^th, Begging the queftion i.e. attaining 

 the thing to be proved from the premifes. 5th, Miftsking the 

 queftion. When the conclufion of the fyllogiim is not the thing 

 that ought to be proved, but fomethlng elfe that is miflaken for it. 

 6th, Wheti the confequence is miflaken ; as if, becaufe all Afri- 

 cans are black, it was taken for granted that all blacks were Afri- 

 cans. 7th, Proportions that are complex, often imply two affirma- 

 tions, whereof one may be true and the other falfe ; as when it 

 is affirmed, taat fucb a man has left off playing the fee,! if granted 

 it implies that he has played the fool ; if denied, leems to imply, 

 that he does fo flill. 



