The arte of logick Plainely taught in the English tongue, according to the best approued authors. Very necessary for all students in any profession, how to defend any argument against all subtill sophisters, and cauelling schismatikes, and how to confute their false syllogismes, and captious arguments. By M. Blundevile.

CHAP. XXI.

Of a Syllogisme Dialecticall.

WHat is a Dialecticall Syllogisme?

A Dialecticall Syllogisme is that which is made of probable and credible Propositions.

What things are said to be probable?

Things probable, according to Aristotle, are these that seeme true to all men, or to the most part of men, or to all wise men, or to the most part of wise men, or else to the most approued wise men: whereby it appeareth that things probable may be said fiue manner of wayes.

Shew how.

First, those things are probable, which vnto all men aswell learned as vnlearned being in their right wits, doe seeme to be true, as these: Euery mother loueth her childe: we loue them that loue vs: we must doe good to them that doe good to vs. Secondly, those things that seeme true to most men, as these: it is better for a communalty to be ruled by one Prince, then by many: It is not good to serue many masters at once. Third∣ly, those things that seeme true to all wise men, as these: what thing soeuer is honest, the same is also profitable: Vertue is better then riches. Fourthly, those that seeme true to the most part of the wise and learned, as thus: the soule of man is im∣mortall: the Sunne is greater then the earth. Fiftly, those things that seeme true to the most approued wise men, as these: The world had a beginning: it is better for a Prince to be lo∣ued, then feared of his Subiects. And generally vnder things probable are contained all true Propositions that be casuall, and not implying any necessitie. I say here true Propositions, to exclude false Propositions, whereof Sophisticall Syllo∣gismes are made, and not those which we call probable or Lo∣gicall Syllogismes; and yet such Propositions be not so true in deede, as those that bee required in a Syllogisme demonstra∣tiue, but onely doe seeme true, ingendring a certaine opinion in mans minde, doubting notwithstanding the contrary: for

it breedeth not a perfect knowledge as Science doth, whereby the minde is of all doubts throughly resolued. And note here, that the Schoolemen doe make the matter (whereof a Diale∣cticall Syllogisme doth consist) to be twofold, that is, Mate∣ria remota, in English, farre off: and Materia propinqua, (that is to say) nigh, or neere at hand.

What doth Materia remota containe?

These foure Dialecticall Predicates, (that is) Definition, called of the Schoolemen Terminus, property, generall kinde, and Accident: All which Predicates are before defined, and are called Predicates, because they are common words spoken of others. But truely I see no cause why these foure Predicates should be attributed to a Dialectical Syllogisme, more then to a Syllogisme demonstratiue: for sure I am, that as good de∣monstrations may be made of these as of any other Predicats.

What is contained vnder Materia propinqua?

These: a Dialecticall Proposition, Probleme, and Position.

What difference is betwixt these three words, Dialecticall Pro∣position, Probleme, and Position?

A Dialecticall Proposition is a probable question vttered with a simple Interrogatory; as whether the mother loueth her childe? which is no question in deede, but to him that asketh.

A Probleme is a doubtfull question vttered with a double Interrogatory, as whether the least fixed starre in the firma∣ment be greater then the Moone or not? or whether that the Sunne be bigger then the earth or not? Position is a wonder∣full opinion maintained by some excellent Clerke, as to say, that all things are but one essence or being, as Melissus affir∣med, or that all things doe continually flowe and change, as Heraclitus held, or that the earth moueth, and not the heauens, as Copernicus supposeth, onely to finde out thereby the true motions of the Planets, and not for that he thought so in deed.