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. IIII.

Of the Forme of a Syllogisme.

YOu sayd before, that the Forme of a Syllogisme com∣prehended Figure, and Moode, now therefore tell what Figure and Moode is, and how many of them there bee.

Figure is no other thing, but the diuers pla∣cing or disposing of the meane terme in the premisses: which figure is three-fold; that is, First, Second, and Third: for if the meane terme be the Subiect in the Maior Proposition, and Predicate in the Minor, as in the example aboue, then it ma∣keth a Syllogisme of the first figure, and if it chance to be Pre∣dicate in both Propositions, then it maketh a Syllogisme of the second figure, as thus: no stone is a sensible body: but man is a sensible body: Ergo, no man is a stone: for here the meane terme, Sensible body, is Predicate in both Propositions: but if the meane be subiect in both Propositions, then it maketh a Syllogisme of the third figure, as thus: euery man is a sub∣stance: euery man is a sensible body: Ergo, some sensible bo∣dy is a substance: for here the meane terme, that is, Man, is sub∣iect in both the first Propositions, and to these three figures do belong certaine moodes.

What is ameode?

A moode, called in Latine modus, amongst the Logicians, is none other but the true ordering aswell of the premisses, as of the conclusion in a Syllogisme, according to due quantitie,

and quality: what the quantitie and quality of a Proposition is, hath been taught before, lib. 3. cap. 1.

How many moodes doe belong to the first figure?

To the first figure doe belong 9. moodes, thus named:

• Barbara: Celarent: Darij: Ferio: Baralipton:
• Celantes: Dabitis: Fapesmo: Frisesomorum.

Whereof the first foure, because they conclude directly, are called perfect moodes, making perfect Syllogismes: and the other fiue, because they conclude vndirectly, are called vn∣perfect moodes, making vnperfect Syllogismes.

What is to conclude directly or indirectly?

That moode is sayd to conclude directly, when the Maior terme is made the Predicate, and the Minor terme the subiect in the conclusion. But if in the conclusion the Minor terme be the Predicate, and the Maior terme the subiect, then that moode is said to conclude directly: as for example: Euery sensible bodie is a substance: Man is a sensible body: Ergo, man is a substance. This Syllogisme concludeth directly, be∣cause the Maior terme, substance, is the Predicate in the con∣clusion: but if the conclusion were thus: Ergo, some substance is a man, then it should conclude indirectly: because this word man which was the subiect of the question in this conclusion, is made the Predicate.

How many moodes doe belong to the second figure?

These foure: Caesare, Camestres, Festino, Baroco.

How many moodes doe belong to the third Figure?

These sixe: Darapti, Felapton, D•…•…samis, Da•…•…isi, Bocardo, and Feriso•…•…: which words beeing otherwise called Termes of Arte, and euery one consisting of three sillables, were pur∣posely inuented by the Schoolemen, to signifie the quanti∣tie and qualitie of euery Proposition contayned in a Syllo∣gisme, and are briefly set downe in these foure verses fol∣lowing.

• Barbara, Celarent, Darij, Ferio, Baralipton:
• Celantes, Da•…•…itis, Fapesmo, Frisesomorum:
• Caesare, Camestres, Festino, Baroco, Darapti:
• Felapton, Disamis, Datisi, Bocardo, Ferison.

It seemeth to me that these names doe not eauenly consist each one of three Syllables, for in the two first verses there be two Moods or names, whereof the one called Baralipton, containeth foure Sylla∣bles, and the other called Frisesomorum, containeth fiue Syllables.

You say true, but these Syllables are no part of these two Moods, but serue only to fill vp the verse: for this Syllable ton, is no part of the Mood Baralip: nor the two Syllables morum, are any part of the Mood Friseso.

What is to be considered in these words of Art or Moods?

Two things, (that is to say) the Vowels and the Conso∣nants contained in euery Mood, and what they signifie.

Which are those Vowels, and what doe they signifie?

The Vowels be these foure, a. e. i. o. whereof a. signifieth an vniuersall Affirmatiue, •…•…. an vniuersall Negatiue, i. a particu∣lar Affirmatiue, o. a particular Negatiue: of all which you shall haue examples in the sixt Chapter of this Booke here fol∣lowing.

Which be the Consonants, and what doe they signifie?

Wee shall haue cause to speake of them hereafter in a fitter place.

In the meane time, then giue examples of the Moods belonging to all the Figures?

Before we giue examples, it shall not be amisse to set down certaine rules requisite to all the three Figures, as well in ge∣nerall, as in particular.