The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. I.

Of Philosophy in generall, and particularly of DIALECTICK.

THE Philosophy of Aristotle is well known, many abstracts thereof have been published, many are read daly in Universities by pub∣lick Professours; yet, will it be requisite to our designe, to give, a short account thereof, that it may appear wherein the doctrine and method of the Peripateticks is different from that of the Academicks and Stoicks.

a 1.1 Philosophy, according to Aristotle, is two-fold, Practick and Theo∣relick. To the Practick belongs Ethick and Politick; this, concerning the well ordering of a City, that of a House. To the Theoretick belongs Physick and Logick; but Logick is not properly a part thereof, but a most expedient I••strument.

Of Logick he asserted two ends, probable and true; for each he makes use of two faculties, Dialectick and Rhetorick for the probable; Analy∣tick and Philosophy for the true, omitting nothing towards Invention, Iudgment, and Use. For Invention, his Topicks and Methodicks afford a plentifull supply, out of which may be taken problems for probable ar∣guments. For Iudgment, his first and second Analyticks: in the first, propositions are examined; in the second, he treats exactly of their com∣position, and the ••orm of Syllogisme. To Use belongs his Agonisticks, and his Books concerning Interrogation, and his Eristicks, and his So∣phistick Elenchs, and of Syllogismes, and the like. Hitherto Laertius.

Of his Logick we have only these books remaining, Of Catego∣ries, of Interrogation, Analyticks, Topicks, and So••histick Elenchs.

The first considers simple terms: The second Propositions: The

rest Syllogismes, Demonstrative, Dialectick, and Sophistick. The Cate∣gories are placed first by the generall consent of all Interpreters, neither is it to be doubted, but that the rest are disposed accor∣ding to the genuine method of Aristotle. For, in the beginning of hisb 1.2 Analyticks, he saith, We must speak of Syllogism before we come to speak of Demonstration, because Syllogisme is the more generall. And in hisc 1.3 Elenchs, Of Didascalick and demonstrative Syllogismes, we have spoken already in the Analyticks, of the Dialectick and Pirastick in the book immediately preceding these: We come not to speak of the Agonistick and Eristick.

Notes

• a 1.1

  ••aert.
• b 1.2

  Lib. 1. cap. 2.
• c 1.3

  Cap. ••.