Monitio logica, or, An abstract and translation of Burgersdicius his logick by a gentleman.

COMMENTARY.

1. §. Synonyma's, in Latin, Univocals, are with Grammarians, Words of the same Signification, as Ensis, Gladius, Sword, Rapier, &c. By Logicians Sy∣nonyms are either strictly taken, or largely. Sy∣nonyms strictly. are said to be those cap. 6. of the Categories, which are, with the same Reason Essenti∣ally said of many things; or, as to Name and De∣finition; as, when Animal is said both of Man and Beast. The Larger is, when all those are call'd Sy∣nonyms which are not Homonyms; which is the Ac∣ceptation of this Place.

2. §. The Name only is said to be common to Homonyms, not that Accidents of Names, such as Genus, Declination, Conjugation, Spirit, Quantity, Accident, &c. should be excluded: For if these were not the same, neither would the Name so be, but that the Ratio of Essence only; that is, that which is explained in the Definition: Nor is it yet sufficient in Homonyms that the Ratio of Essence be diverse but also, it is necessary that they be diverse, as to

the Common Name, or as they convene in that Common Name. For Example: Animal is a Common Name to Man and Beast, and yet not an Homonym: For altho' one is the Definition of Man, another of Beast, as they differ in Names, yet convene they in one Definition, which answers to the Common Name of Animal, and that is enough to hinder it here from being an Homonym; But if Animal be referr'd to a li∣ving Animal and a Painted, 'tis an Homonym; be∣cause no Definition is in common to a Living Ani∣mal and a Painted, that is accommodated to the com∣mon Name of Animal. And so we come to the third Axiom which shews us,

Ax. 3. Viz. That Homonymy, is either Casual, or Designed.

Ax. 4. By Casuality then it is said to be when the same Word is imposed upon divers things without Reason.

Ax. 5. Design when the same Word is used for certain Cause or Reason.

Ax. 8. And this reason is either in things, or in us.

Ax. 7. Things either Trope, or unequal Attribu∣tion; by reason of Trope or Figure, Words are said to be Homonymous when they are deflected,

Ax. 8. As sometimes they are from their proper Significations to some other; because of that mutual Habitude or Relation, which things may have each to the other, whether simple or Analogical. And these are large in their Extent, as Trope.

Ax. 9. Reason of unequal Attribution, viz. that those signifie that common Nature which is unequally communicated to its subjected Spe∣cies's.

Ax. 10. By Reason of us, the Homonymy is when for the sake of the Memory of any Person near and dear to us, or some Illustrious Person in Hopes of Si∣militude, or the like, we impose such and such Names upon our Children and Friends.

Ax. 11. Of these the farthest distant from Syno∣nyms, that is, such as we have in the Beginning of this Chapter defined, are Homonyms by Chance, and those whose Reason or Homonymy is in us: More nearly, the Tropicks, and first the Analogous: Nearest of all, those that are Ambiguous by reason of Unequal At∣tribution, &c.

1. §. Now the general Cause of Homonymy, or Ambiguity is the Infinite Multitude of things and Pauci∣ty of Words: For by reason of that much greater Pau∣city of Words than Things, of Necessity one Word must be applied to signifie many things. But the Cause why this Word or that Word is Homony∣mous is either none, as in Homonymy by Chance: Or if there be any which may move a wise Man to make use of the same Word to signifie many things it is either the Change of the Word, from its proper Signification, as in the Tropicks; or unequal Attribution as in them, which convene not equally to Inferiours; or Con∣servation of some ones Memory, or the Hope of Simili∣tude, or Example. For Instance; the Word Jus in Latin signifies both Broth and that which is oppos'd to Injustice, the Homony my is by Chance: For there is no Reason why this Name should be impos'd up∣on things, having no Affinity at all amongst them∣selves.

2 §. What, and how many sold Trope is, is to be known from the Rhetoricians: But Trope causes Homonomy, because a Sentence pronounc'd in Tropical Words, may be ambiguous and sallacious,; as, when the Word fox is put for a Guil••ful Person; Pastor, for a Minister of the Church; Soul for Man; Author for the Work, &c. For it's uncertain whether a Man may use these in their Proper, or their translated Signification. Ho∣monyms by unequal Attribution are, For Example; such as these, viz. En•• or Being, in Respect of Sub∣france and Accident: Syllogism in respect of Syl∣logism strictly so call'd, and other Syllogisms, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are wont to be called Syllogisms; and so the

Term Sanum in Latin is given to Animal, Medicine and Urine, &c.

3 §. And even all these have their Causes of Am∣biguity in Things. Others also there are, which we have said, have their Causes of Ambiguity in us, and our Will; as when we give the Name of the Parent to the Child, for the Conservation of his Memory, or some Pious and Learned Person, hoping that ours may be excited by his Example to become like unto him. These Ammonius in his Commentary on the Book of the Categ. calls Memoriae, and the others Spei gra∣tia.

4. §. But that the Homonomy of Words may be so much the better understood, which is in the first Place to be regarded in Disputati∣ons, we may take Notice of some Canons or Criterions which Aristotle delivers Book 1. Top. Cap. 15. Of which we shall here repeat the Chief. All those Words in the first Place fall under the Title of Homonymous, to which many are Con∣traries; as that of the Latin Word Grave, to which Leve and Acutum. Secondly, Those which have some∣times a Contrary, sometimes not; as the Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to love, unto which sometimes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or hate, and sometimes nothing, as when signifying to wont. Thirdly, Those which have sometimes a Medium, sometimes not: So the Words Candid and F••••••••d, that is in English, White and dark Brown: For when Discourse is of Colour, the Pale and other Middles are interjected between them: But when of Voice said to be Candid or Fuscid, that is, Clear or Hoarse, then nothing. Fourth∣ly, Those are said to be Homonymous to which something is opposed that is Ambiguous: So A∣cute is an Homonym, because Obtuse: For both an Ax is said to be Obtuse, and the Voice and the Wit. So also the Word Flock, and therefore likewise Pa∣sior. And so in other Genus's of Oppositions, excepting Disparates. Fifthly those whose Con∣jugates

jugates are Homonyms; and so because the La∣tin Word Sanus is an Homonym, so also must the Word Sanitas be. Sixthly, Those which signifie Things of divers Kinds, and so Good; because to be found in all Categories: So also, the Greek Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because it signifies as well an Ass as a Milstone. Seventhly, Those which are attri∣buted to such things as are not such as that they may be compared, and the one be said to be more such, or as much such as the other, and therefore Candid; because attributed both to the Voice and a Garment. When a Voice can be said to be neither more nor less so than a Garment. Eighthly, Those Words which signifie the Diffe∣rences of Genus's that are not Subaltern: As A∣cute, that is, the Difference both of Voice and Mag∣nitude. Ninthly, Those which have diverse Dif∣ferences, as the Word Jus in Latin: For others are the Differences of that from which the Lawyers are called Jurisconsulti, and Others, that which may be drank. Tenthly, and Lastly, Those which signifie sometimes a Species, and sometimes a Difference, as the Word Candor, which signifies a Species of Colour, and a Difference of Voice, &c.

Ax. 12. The diverse Acceptions of Words, which the Schoolmen call Suppositions, Effect no Homonymy.

Ax. 13. Words are either taken Materially or For∣mally.

Ax. 14. They are said to be taken Materially when for themselves.

Ax. 15. Formally, when for the Things by them signified.

1. §. For Example: When I say Animal is a Word of Three Syllables of the Neuter Gender and the Third Declension, the Word Homo is a Word of Two Syllables of the Common Gender: The Words Homo and Animal are Materially taken, that is, by and for themselves, not otherwise, than as if they

signify'd nothing at all. But when I say Man is an Animal, the Words Man and Animal are for∣mally taken, that is, for those things which they signi∣fie according to Institution.

Ax. 16. Formal Acception, when of singular Words, is but of One Mode; but when of Univer∣sal, it is either Simple or Concrete; and

Ax. 17. Simple, then when a Universal is tak∣en for the Common Nature Abstractedly from In∣feriours.

Ax. 18. Concrete, when in Inferiours.

1. §. For Example: When I say Animal is the Genus of Man, the Word Animal is taken simply for the Nature of Animal Abstractedly considered, as in the Notion of the Mind or Understanding it is prescinded from Inferiours. But when I say Man is an Animal, the Word Animal is taken in the Concrete, viz. as it ex∣ists in Humane Species. This Concrete Acception is, by the Schoolmen termed Personal, who dispute very largely of Acceptions, or, as they speak, Suppositi∣ons. From whence we have selected these few things; which, for the great Use they have in Disputa∣tions, could not well, and without Damage, have been omitted. The rest of them seem only to be calcula∣ted for Pomp and Ostentation. And thus much may suffice for Theme Simple, its Categories, Affecti∣ons and Interpretation.