An introduction to the art of logick composed for the use of English schools, and all such who having no opportunity of being instructed in the Latine tongue ... / by John Newton ...

CHAP XV. Of the Topicks from the Whole and his Parts.

THe whole and its parts are relations.

The whole is that which is composed by the union of all the parts; as, a man: The parts are those which are united in the whole; as, the head, the breast, the legs. The essential parts of an essential whole are matter and form. The integral parts of an integral whole are those which differ so in their scituation, as that one part may be separated from another; as the parts of a house are, the foundation, the walls, the roof. An Homogeneal Integer or whole is distributed into Homogeneal or simila∣ry, parts, of which every one hath name and definition of the whole; as, every part of wa∣ter is water. An Heterogeneal whole is distri∣buted

into Heterogeneal or dissimilary parts, which have distinct names and natures from the whole; as, the parts of a man are the head, hands, feet, &c. Parts may be consider∣ed either every one single by its self, or all of them jointly and together.

The Canons or Rules are these.

• 1. The whole being granted, the parts are granted also; as, if there be a house, there is a foundation.
• 2. If the parts be taken away, the whole is taken away also; as, if there be no founda∣tion, certainly there can be no house; both these rules fail, 1. In equivocal parts, and parts so called improperly; as, it doth not follow, that he is not a man, because he hath neither hair nor nails. 2. In a whole, that is lame in some part not simply necessary: as he may be a man, though one of his fingers or hands be cut off.
• 3. The whole being taken away, the parts are also taken away; as if there be not a house, there is not a foundation.
• 4. The parts being granted, the whole is also granted; as if there be a foundation, walls, and roof, there must be a house. Either of these rules fail, when the parts are taken by themselves; as, there may be a foundation, though there is not a house as yet.