182 METHODS IN SECONDARY PROPOSITIONS. [CHAP. XII. 



principle, are not those which are well wrought, and in a good 

 condition, least changed by time and other accidents ? Even so. 

 And whatever is in a right state, either by nature or by art, or 

 by both these, admits of the smallest change from any other 

 thing. So it seems. But God and things divine are in every 

 sense in the best state. Assuredly. In this way, then, God 

 should least of all bear many forms ? Least, indeed, of all. 

 Again, should He transform and change Himself? Manifestly He 

 must do so, if He is changed at all. Changes He then Himself to 

 that which is more good and fair, or to that which is worse and 

 baser ? Necessarily to the worse, if he be changed. For never 

 shall we say that God is indigent of beauty or of virtue. You 

 speak most rightly, said I, and the matter being so, seems it to 

 you, O Adimantus, that God or man willingly makes himself in 

 any sense worse ? Impossible, said he. Impossible, then, it is, 

 said I, that a god should wish to change himself; but ever being 

 fairest and best, each of them ever remains absolutely in the same 

 form." 



The premises of the above argument are the following : 



1st. If the Deity suffers change, He is changed either by Him- 

 self or by another. 



2nd. If He is in the best state, He is not changed by another. 



3rd. The Deity is in the best state. 



4th. If the Deity is changed by Himself, He is changed to a 

 worse state. 



5th. If He acts willingly, He is not changed to a worse state. 



6th. The Deity acts willingly. 



Let us express the elements of these premises as follows : 



Let x represent the proposition, " The Deity suffers change." 

 y, He is changed by Himself. 

 z, He is changed by another. 

 s 9 He is in the best state. 

 t, He is changed to a worse state. 

 w 9 He acts willingly. 



Then the premises expressed in symbolical language yield, after 

 elimination of the indefinite class symbols v, the following equa- 

 tions : 



