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

CHAP. XXVIII. Of Method.

Ax. 1. THere remains yet Order or Method to be entreated of; And that is, an apt Dis∣position of Things belonging to the same Head; so as that they may be the best and most easily understood, and the most firmly imprinted upon the Memory.

Ax. 2. For which End, we are ever to set those things before, which conduce to the Knowledge of the Following: At least, are better understood than they.

Ax. 3. Now Method is either Natural or Arbitrary.

Ax. 4. Natural, in which the Order of Na∣ture and Distinct Knowledge of Things is ob∣served.

Ax. 5. In which we must observe in the first Place, that all the Parts are to be Homogene∣ous: that is, not Impertinent, or Foreign to the Sub∣ject.

1. §. By which Means, we not only confirm that Rule, that Disciplines ought not to be mixed: So as in Mathematicks we are not to use Ethical Demonstrations: Or in Ethicks, Mathematical, &c. But this also, viz. That every thing ought to be set in its proper Place; And so those things which are reciprocated with the Genus to the Genus; and with the Species to the Species, should be attributed: And that all things be Reciprocal as much as may be.

2. §. And indeed this Rule is to be observ'd in the very Precepts which belong to the Essence of Disciplines; But yet in the Comments where the Precepts of them are explain'd, and confirm'd, the Observation of it is not so Necessary: For it often happens to the Master teaching Physick, that he is forc'd to fetch from Logick, and E∣thicks, Physick. Moreover in Divinity and all o∣ther Disciplines, how much of Necessity must they fetch from Philosophy for the explaining their Controversies, which yet becomes no Part at all of those Disciplines? Which, if that Cen∣surer of Aristotle had better consider'd, he would, without all Question, have judg'd more impartially of the Writings and Method of that admirable Philoso∣pher; in which he distinguishes not the Precepts from the Comments that are made upon them; which, in in the first Place he ought to have done.

Ax. 6. Now in Natural Method we are always to proceed from Universals to Particulars, and in that Progress all the Parts are to be connected together by apt Bonds of Transition.

1. §. Which Progress is to be instituted by Divi∣sion whose Parts are to be joyn'd together by apt Bonds of Transition, which forms how much they help the Memory of the Reader, is almost incredi∣ble.

Ax. 7. Method of Nature, in the next Place, is either Total or Partial.

Ax. 8. Total, That in which some whole Science is disposed.

Ax. 9. And this is either Synthetic or Ana∣lytic.

Ax. 10. Synthetic is that which proceeds from the most simple Principles, to those things which are compounded of those Principles.

Ax. 11. And so the Speculative Disciplines are to be handled.

Ax. 12. Analytie, That, which beginning from the End proceeds to the next Means; and so from these to the more Remote, till at last it arrive to the First and mosi Simple.

Ax. 13. And thus are Arts and Disciplines Pra∣ctical to be entreated of.

1. §. The Disciplines Speculative have no end which is diverse from themselves; but the very Knowledge of the Things proposed is their End: For in that the Mind acquiesces; But Arts and Disci∣plines Practical rest not there, viz. in the Knowledge of the Thingt proposed, but have some farther End, viz. Work, Practice, or Operation that is agreeable to that Knowledge. Whence is it, that the Sciences Theore∣tical, such as Physicks, Metaphysicks, Mathematicks, &c. are disposed in Synthetick Method, proceeding from the first Principles to those which are formed or made of them; and that first in the Genus and then in the Species, till at last it is come to the lowest Species of all. But in Arts, such as Grammar, Rhetorick, Logick Medicine, Architecture; and in practical Disciplines; such as Ethicks, Politicks, Oeconomicks, &c. We contrari∣wise proceed from the End to the Means: For that which is first in the doing of things, is always last in the Design or Intention of them: And so on the Contrary. Wherefore since the said Disci∣plines proceed from the Means to the End in Acting, (for the Architect first lays his Foundation, then prepares his Timber, Rafters, Beams, &c and of these makes the House,) Itt follows in the Design that the End has the first Place; and of the Means, those the next which are last brought to pass. For these Disciplines keep not the Order of Action but Design: For the Design is nothing else but the very Pra∣ctical Knowledge of Things which are propos'd. And certainly the End in Practical Disciplines has it self no otherwise, i. e. is no otherwise to the Means than are the Hypotheses, or Principles in the Mathema∣ticks

to the Conclusions which are gathered from them: As Aristotle says Book 7. Eth. C. 8.

2. In both these we are to observe the Order of Nature: In the Synthetic, that of Nature Ge∣nerating or Effecting Analytick, that of Intending or Designing. Piccolominy therefore must be under a Mistake, Cap. 21, Introd. and Part 7. Com. Pot. Where, altho' he confesses that Synthetic Method is fittest for Speculative, and the other for Arts and Practical Disciplines, yet he will needs have it, That all Disciplines will admit both of One and the Other, and Accordingly in his 10 Degrees of Moral Philo∣sophy he has Observed the Synthetic; but not the most to his Purpose, as Zabarella solidly proves Book 2. of his Apol. Cap. 4. & seq.

3. Galen sets down three sorts of Method; and explaining two of them, adds a Third, viz. Definiti∣on. But it is not necessary; nay indeed, it cannot be, that any other should be Observed in Science, but the Synthetic and Analytick. For Definition is not so much Method, as an Instrument or Part of it. For all Method takes its Beginning from the De∣finition of some Whole; and Dividing goes on to the Parts and Species's of it, which are contained under that Whole. More against Galen concerning this Definitive Method you may see in Zabarella, Book 2. Meth. Cap. 4.

Ax. 14. A Partial Method is then, when some Part of a Discipline is disposed; or particular Theme severally handled.

1. §. For there's a two-fold Use or Considerati∣on of Method Partial: For either it may be consider'd as it is, a Part of the Total Me∣thod, or as it is a Method of some Theme sepa∣rately and apart by it self to be handled. As it is a Part of the Whole; This One thing is to be precepted (more than what we have already said in the general) to wit, that it often happens in a Part of a

Discipline whose Whole is in Method Synthetical, that the Analytick Order may be kept: And so on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other Hand, in the Parts of Analytick, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Synthetick. As for Instance: Physick is Composed in Synthetick Order, if the Whole be consid••••••d; And yet in that Part where we entreat of Animate Bodies, a resolutive may well enough be kept, viz. Beginning from the Operations which are the End of the A∣nimated Body: And so going on to the Causes and Principles, which are the Faculties of the Mind, and Temperament and Organical Parts of that Body, &c. In like Manner the Arts of Medi∣cine, Grammar, Logick, if look'd upon in the Whole, are laid down in an Analytick Method; But in the Parts of them the Synthetick is observed. Physiology, which is a Part of Me∣dicine, is delivered in a Synthetick Order; and in Grammar we first entreat of Letters, Sylables, then Words, and Lastly, Speech and its Construction.

And so in Logick. First, we treat of Themes Simple, and then Complex; which, certainly, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, to Compose, or Proceed in Composed Order. In so much, yet, as these Arts are begun from the Notion of the End, and so go on to the Means they are said in the Whole, to be disposed in an Analytical Order: As Zabarella has well observed Lib. 2. de Math. Cap. 20. &c. The rest may be sought for out of the Institutions.

Note, the Chapters of Sophisms and Method were principally turn'd by another Hand.