536 
Synopsis of Logic and Metaphysics, 
tt may not be improper to discuss the 
nature and the various lands of defini¬ 
tions, and to suggest certain rules ac¬ 
cording to which definitions should be 
formed. 
II. The second part of Logic treats of 
Reasoning, or of the use of our intellec¬ 
tual powers. In this division of the 
course it will, according to my apprehen¬ 
sion, be proper to speak, 
1 . 0/' Reasoning in General^ and of 
the Taiious ingredients of which it con~ 
sisCs. 
2 . Of the Various kinds of Reasoning . 
3. Cf Reasoning us far as it relates to 
the qualities of thhigs, and to the relations 
ef our general ideas. 
4. We shall give a Critical Analysis of 
the Logic of Aristotle. 
5. We shall treat of Syllogism, and of 
its Constituent Rrovositions. 
Of the rarious kinds of Syllogisms. 
—Syllogistic reasoning much abused du¬ 
ring tlie long reign of the Aristotelian 
philosophy; not, however, to be w holly 
despised or neglected, because in many 
cases it may be successfully employed in 
the investigation of truth—fallen now per¬ 
haps into unmerited disrepute. 
6 . Of ^lethod in General. 
7. Of the Method of Invention ; or of 
Analysis. 
8 . Cf the Method of Science; or of 
Synthesis. 
9. Of Induction; or of the Baconian 
iMethod of Bhilosophising. —Rules of phi- 
lijsophising laid down by Bacon — Instav^ 
ratio Magna Scientiarum, Part 2 d, or Ao- 
vum Orgfinum. 
10 . Of the various kinds of Arguments 
and Demonstrations. 
11. Of certain general and particular 
Rules or Canons, which ought to be at¬ 
tended to in the formation oj Methods. 
12 . if Sophisms, and of their deleteri¬ 
ous Ivfutnce both on the Sciences and on 
our Frocesses of Reasoning and Argumen¬ 
tation. 
Having fully discussed these topics in 
their order, I shall close this department 
of the Couise, by laying down and incul- 
caiing certain rules tor the more success¬ 
ful management and exercise of our 
powers of Ratiocination.—It remains 
tfiat, 
III. Lender the third head or division 
of logic I treat of Language . — In this 
last department of the Course I shall na¬ 
turally he led to consider, 
The Origin and Progress of Lan¬ 
guage, its incalculable Advantages to the 
Human Race, 4 c* 
[Jan. 1. 
Q. The Structure of Language; or the 
Philosophy of Grammar,—^Elements of 
Philosophical Criticism.—Rules for Lite* 
rary Composition, ^'C, 
Before the termination of the Courses, 
certain Faculties, or Principles, either 
wholly necessary, or at least in a great 
measure subservient, to the progress and 
cultivation of our intellectual powers, 
will deservedly claim our attention.— 
Among these may be ranked tbe Principle 
of Imitation. 
Having instituted a comparative view 
of the Faculties of the Human Mind, 
and of the Instincts of the lower animals, 
I shall bring to a conclusion my academi¬ 
cal labours. 
METAPHYSICS. 
With regard to the science of Metaphy¬ 
sics, I have here to observe, that the in¬ 
vestigation of our Intellectual Taculiits, 
or the Philosophy of Mind, constitutes in 
my opinion its principal and most useful 
department, and of these I have fully 
treated in the first division of the Course. 
—But if it should be expected that I 
should prosecute to a greater length my 
metaphysical inquiries, I have yet to re¬ 
mark that the metaphysician who is in¬ 
clined to penetrate deeper into his science 
may treat, 
1 . Of Ontology; or of Being in Ge- 
neral. 
2 . Of Preumatology ; or of the Nature 
of Spirits. 
3. Of Cosmology; or of the Fssenst 
and Laws of the World. 
In surveying these remote and dark 
departments of Metaphysics, Body or 
IMatter, and its or adjuncts ; 
Mind, its Essence, and Attributes, will 
demand the metaphysician’s profoundest 
attention. 
It is evident that these difficult and 
certainly less profitable branches of the 
science, must include many disquisitions 
in former ages regarded as of the 
utmost importance, but now much dimi¬ 
nished in value in the estimation of sound 
philosophers, concerning the existence 
and qualities both of Matter and of 
S'oirit. 
A 
After these topics shall have undergone 
due discussion, the metaphysical in¬ 
quirer may proceed to Natural Theo* 
logy .—The light which reason throws on 
the immortality of the human soul will 
here be exhibited. The Omnipotent 
Mind will come to be consideicd, and 
the Attributes of the Divinity, both 
Natural and Moral, will reverently be¬ 
come the subjects of investigation. 
The 
