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.

Of Induction.

WHat is Induction?

Induction is a kind of argument, wherein we proceede from many particulars to a vniuersall conclusion, comprehending all the said particu∣lars: and by the particulars here I mean not only singularities, called in Latine Indiuidua, but also such things as be lesse common then that vniuersall which is concluded; as when we proceed from many speciall kinds, to some generall kinde comprehending the same, or from things lesse common to more common.

What is to be obserued in this kind of reasoning?

That the particulars be all of like nature; for if there be any one contrary or vnlike to the rest, then the Induction is not good.

How manifold is Induction?

Twofold: Perfect, and Vnperfect: it is called perfect, when all the singularities are rehearsed: and vnperfect, when but some certaine parts are only recited.

Giue example of Induction.

Of an Induction, proceeding from meere singularities vnto vniuersall, let this be your example: Malmesie is hot, Gascoin wine is hot, Romney wine is hot, Sack is hot, Renish wine is hot, French wine is hot, & sic de singulis: Ergo, Euery wine is hot; which may bee brought into a Syllogisme thus: Euery thing that is wine, be it eyther of Greece, Spaine, Italy, Ger∣many, France, or of any other countrey is hot, but euery wine is one of these: Ergo, euery wine is hot.

Giue example of an Induction proceeding from the speciall kinds to their generall kinds?

Of an Induction proceeding from the speciall kindes to the generall kind, let this be your example: Euery Man hath mo∣uing, euery Horse hath mouing, euery Oxe hath mouing, & sic de singulis: Ergo, euery sensible body hath mouing. In which example you see, that to euery speciall kinde is added an vni∣uersall signe to make your Induction good, which would not be so, if you should vse a particular signe, in saying, some Man, some Horse, some Oxe, and so forth.

Which of these two kindes of reasoning, eyther an Induction or a Syllogisme is most familiar and easie to man?

Induction is more familiar to man then a Syllogisme, for the Syllogisme proceedeth from vniuersalities vnto particulari∣ties, which vniuersalities be more knowne to nature (that is to say) to the discourse of reason, and lesse knowne to our out∣ward sences. But Induction proceedeth from particularities vnto vniuersalities, which particularities are more knowne vn∣to vs, (that is to say) to our outward sences, and lesse knowne to Nature. Againe, by Induction wee are able to proue the principles of Demonstration, which are not otherwise to bee proued, as this principle: Euery whole is more then his part, may be proued by Induction in this sort: This whole is more then his part, and that whole is more then his part, neyther is there to be found any whole, but that is more then his part:

Ergo, Euery whole is more then his part. Also this principle, Euery sensible bodie endued with reason is apt to learne, may be proued thus: This man is apt to learne; and that man is apt to learne, and so of the rest: Ergo, Euery sensible body endued with reason is apt to learne.