SOP 
smoke ; or rather, it is the smoke itself, 
fixed and gatliered on the sides of the 
chimney. 
SOPHISM, in logic, &c. an argument 
which carries much of the appearance of 
truth, and yet leads into error. There is 
some need of a particular description of 
these fallacious arguments, that we may 
with more ease and readiness detect and 
solve them. 1. The first sort of sophism is 
called “ ignoratio elenchi or a mistake of 
the question. 2. The next sophism is called 
“ petitio principii,” or a supposition of what 
is not granted. 3. That sort of fallacy 
which is called a circle, is very near a kin to 
the “ petitio principii.” 4. The next sort 
of sophism is called “ non causa pro causa,” 
or the assignation of a false cause, .'i. The 
next is called “ fallacia accidentis,” or a 
sophism, wherein we pronounce concerning 
the nature and essential properties of any 
subject, according to something which is 
merely accidental to it. 6. The next sophism 
borders upon the former ; and that is when 
we argue from that which is true, abso- 
lutely, simply, and abstracted from all cir- 
cumstances ; this is called, in the schools, a 
sophism “ a dicto secundum quid ad dictum 
simpliciter.” This sort of sophism has also 
its reverse ; as, when we argue from that 
which is true, simply and absolutely, to 
prove the same thing true in all particular 
circumstances whatsoever. 7. The sophisms 
of composition and division come next to 
be mentioned. The sophism of composi- 
tion is, when we infer any thing concern- 
ing ideas in a compound sense, which is only 
true in a divided sense. The sophism of di- 
vision is, when we inl^r the same thing con- 
cerning ideas in a divided sense, which is 
only true in a compounded one. This sort 
of sophism is committed when the word all 
is taken in a collective and distributive 
^ense, without a due distinction. It is the 
same fallacy, when the universal word all, 
or no, refers to species in one proposition, 
and to the individuals in another. 8. The 
last sort of sophisms arises from our abuse 
of the ambiguitv of words, which is the 
largest and most extensive kind of fal- 
lacy ; and, indeed, several of the former fal- 
lacies might be reduced to this head. When 
the words or phrases are plainly equivocal, 
they are called sophisms of equivocation. 
I'his sophism, aS well as the foregoing, and 
all of the like nature, are solved by showing 
the dift'erent senses >of the words, terms, or 
phrases. 
But, where such gross equivocations and 
SOR 
ambiguities appear in arguments, there is 
little danger in imposing on ourselves or 
others ; the greatest danger, and what we 
are perpetualljf exposed to, in reasoning, 
is, where the two senses or significations of 
one term are near a- kin, and not plainly dis- 
tinguished ; and yet are sufficiently dif- 
ferent in their sense to lead us into great 
mistakes, if we are not watchful. And, 
indeed, the greatest part of controversies, 
in the sacred or civil life, arise from the dif- 
ferent senses that are put upon words, and 
the different ideas conveyed by them. 
SOPHORA, in botany, a genus of the 
Decandria Monogynia class and order. Na- 
tural order of Papilionace® or Leguminosas. 
Essential character : calyx five-toothed, 
gibbous above ; corolla papilionaceous, with 
the wings of the same length with the 
standard ; legume. There are twenty-five 
species. 
SORBUS, in botany, mountain-ash, a 
genus of the Icosaodria Trigynia class and 
order. Natural order of Pomace®. Rosa- 
ce®, Jussieu. Essential character : calyx 
five-cleft; petals five ; berry inferior ; three- 
seeded. There are three species. 
SOREX, the shrew, in natural history, a 
genus of Mammalia of the order Fer®. 
Generic character : in the upper jaw two 
front teeth long and bifid ; in the lower 
two or four, tlie intermediate ones shorter ; 
several tusks on each side ; giinders cuspi- 
dated. This genus of animals is most 
nearly allied to that of the mouse. Its 
teeth, however, constitute an important 
variation, and class it rather with the carni- 
vorous tribes. There are seventeen species, 
of which the following most deserve atten- 
tion. S. araneus, or the fetid shrew, is 
found throughout Europe and the north of 
Asia, and inhabits fields, gardens, and out- 
houses, and measures about two inches and 
a half in length, exclusively ofits tail. It is 
distinguished from a mouse chiefly by a 
long and sharp snout. It breeds in holes 
under banks, feeds on roots and grain, as 
well as on every species of putrid animal 
substance, and has a very rank and disa- 
gi eeable odour, whence it derives its desig- 
nation. 
S. moschatus, or the musky shrew', abounds 
in the north of Europe and Asia, and inha- 
bits principally the river Volga, rarely ap- 
pearing on land. It is about seven inches 
long, to the tail, and of a cinereous brow'n 
colour. Its snout is extremely prolonged, 
and apparently cartilaginous. It feeds on 
worms, water-insects, and leeches, and 
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