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

COMMENTARY.

1. §. So that to Syllogise is to collect, that is, conclude, or from some certain Propositions to draw up the Summ of an Argument or Proof.

2. §. The Genus of Syllogism is Speech, viz. prin∣cipally Internal; because, without External, a Syllogism may consist, viz. in the Mind.

3. §. By something diverse from the Supposed, is to be understood, the Conclusion. Yet,

4. §. When the Conclusion is said necessarily to follow, we are not to understand it of the Necessity of the Conclusion it self, viz. that of the Consequent but Consequence: For that of the Consequent or Conclusion it self, has Place only in Demonstra∣tion of the Consequence in every well-form'd Syllo∣gism: For this being taken away, a Syllogism, will be no Syllogism but a Paralogism.

5. §. Lastly, By reason of the Premisses, that is, the Premisses, must be so very clear, that to the Neces∣sity of such a Sequel, nothing out of the Syllogism need to be sought for. For Example: If it be true that every thing be good, that is, according to Nature, and that all Pleasure is according to Nature, it must necessarily follow, that all Pleasure is good, and that by Force of the Terms that are contain'd in the two Premisses without the Help of any other, &c. Now,

Ax. 2. A Syllogism is either absolutely consider∣ed, that is, in it self, or with respect to those diverse Effects which it produces, by reason of the Diversity of the Conditions of its Matter.

Ax. 3. And the first Tract will consist of three Members, viz. first of Genesis, or the manner of making a Syllogism; secondly, finding out a Medium; and thirdly, of the Division of Syllogism, and of the various Species's of such Argumentations.

Ax. 4. And the first of these will be understood by the Explication of the Matter, as well remote as pro∣ximate, and the Form. Now,

Ax. 5. The remote Matter of Syllogism are three Terms, to wit, two Extremes, major and minor, that is, Subject and Predicate, and one Middle, which is the Argument fetch'd from without to prove the Que∣stion.

1. §. The Parts of the Question and the Middle, by which we mean the Medium, are thus called, not because of their Site, but Office.

2. §. Secondly, now the Argument must be but One; because that which unites, ought it self to be but One. And if two in one Syllogism, a third would be wanted, by which to find out the Con∣venience or Inconvenience of those two: As, when the Equality or Inequality of two Magnitudes are explorated or tryed by two diverse Measures, there will be Occasion for a Third, by which to find out the Equality or Inequality, even of those two.

Ax. 6. The Proximate Matter are only three Propositions, which are made out of these Terms Combin'd together, of which the two first,

Ax. 7. Antecede and infer, and the third follows and is inferr'd.

Ax. 8. The first is term'd Proposition or Major Pro∣position; the second, Assumption, or Minor; and the third, Collection, Conclusion or Commplexion.

1. §. The first Proposition is call'd Proposition; because first propos'd, or prepos'd to the rest of the Propositions: The same Major, because compos'd of the Major Term, and Medium; as the second Minor, because of the Minor and Medium. The third Conclusion, because it collects together the Parts of the Question which were separated in the Premisses, and joyns them.

2. §. Of this two-fold Matter, a Syllogism may be made or compos'd in this manner. In the first Place some Question is to be sought for: As for Instance; Is Logick an Art? This Question contains two Parts, the Subject Logick, and Predicate Art. To the Proof of Logick's being an Art, let us take some Argument, or Medium, and let that be Habit Effective. Let this Argument in the first Place be joyn'd to the Pre∣dicate of the Question, which is Art, and then the Major is made, which is, every Habit effective is an Art: And then with the Subject, and then the Mi∣nor, viz. Logick is a Habit Effective: From whence unavoidably will follow this Conclusion, viz. that Logick is an Art, &c. And thus much of the Matter, as well remote as proximate.

Ax. 9. The Syllogistick Form is only an apt Dis∣position of the three Propositions for the neces∣sary Collection of a Conclusion from the Premisses.

Ax. 10. Which Aptitude or Disposition consisteth in Figure and Mode.

Ax. 11. A Figure is a legitimate Disposition of the Medium with the Parts of the Question.

Ax. 12. A Mode is a legitimate Determination of the Propositions according to Quantity and Quality.

1. §. For the Conclusion follows not from any Premisses at least, not necessarily, but only those that are affected with a certain Quantity, and after a certain Law and Manner are affirmed and denyed.

Ax. 13. Of Modes in Syllogism, some are direct, o∣thers inverse, and indirect.

Ax. 14. Direct, those in which the Major Extreme is collected of the Minor: as in this,

Every Man is an Animal. Socrates is a Man. And therefore Socrates is an Animal, &c.

Ax. 15. Invers'd on the contrary those in which the Minor from the Major: as here,

Every Man is an Animal. No Stone is a Man. Some Animal therefore is not a Stone.

But of these Sorts of Modes there is but little or no Use.

Ax. 16. The Direct are either Universal or Singular.

Ax. 17. Universal are those in which either both, or One of the Premisses are Universal, as here.

Every Animal lives. Every Man is an Animal. And therefore every Man lives, &c. Or, Every Man is a Rational Animal. Socrates is a Man. And therefore Socrates is a Rational Animal, &c.

Ax. 18. Those Singular, in which both Singular: as here.

Judas was a Wicked Man. Judas was an Apostle. Some Apostle therefore was a Wicked Man, &c.

But such Argumentations as these Aristotle has not vouchsafed to call Syllogisms, but only Expositions or Exhibitions; because they expound the Necessity of the Sequel in Syllogisms of the third Figure, and exhibit it to the Senses. By the Peripateticks, his Fol∣lowers, they are call'd Expositories, and by Ramus, proper, others singular Syllogisms: But now of the three Figures in Syllogism with the Modes Universal and Singular which belong to them.