Chapter II: Preface: To the Third and Fourth Editions

Several criticisms, of a more or less controversial character, on this work, have appeared since the publication of the second edition; and Dr. Whewell has lately published a reply to those parts of it in which some of his opinions were controverted.[2]

I have carefully reconsidered all the points on which my conclusions have been assailed. But I have not to announce a change of opinion on any matter of importance. Such minor oversights as have been detected, either by myself or by my critics, I have, in general silently, corrected: but it is not to be inferred that I agree with the objections which have been made to a passage, in every instance in which I have altered or cancelled it. I have often done so, merely that it might not remain a stumbling-block, when the amount of discussion necessary to place the matter in its true light would have exceeded what was suitable to the occasion.

To several of the arguments which have been urged against me, I have thought it useful to reply with some degree of minuteness; not from any taste for controversy, but because the opportunity was favourable for placing my own conclusions, and the grounds of them, more clearly and completely before the reader. Truth, on these subjects, is militant, and can only establish itself by means of conflict. The most opposite opinions can make a plausible show of evidence while each has the statement of its own case; and it is only possible to ascertain which of them is in the right, after hearing and comparing what each can say against the other, and what the other can urge in its defence.

Even the criticisms from which I most dissent have been of great service to me, by showing in what places the exposition most needed to be improved, or the argument strengthened. And I should have been well pleased if the book had undergone a much greater amount of attack; as in that case I should probably have been enabled to improve it still more than I believe I have now done.

* * * * *

In the subsequent editions, the attempt to improve the work by additions and corrections, suggested by criticism or by thought, has been continued. In the present (seventh) edition, a few further corrections have been made, but no material additions.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] In the later editions of Archbishop Whately's _Logic_, he states his meaning to be, not that "rules" for the ascertainment of truths by inductive investigation cannot be laid down, or that they may not be "of eminent service," but that they "must always be comparatively vague and general, and incapable of being built up into a regular demonstrative theory like that of the Syllogism." (Book IV. ch. iv. § 3.) And he observes, that to devise a system for this purpose, capable of being "brought into a scientific form," would be an achievement which "he must be more sanguine than scientific who expects." (Book IV. ch. ii. § 4.) To effect this, however, being the express object of the portion of the present work which treats of Induction, the words in the text are no overstatement of the difference of opinion between Archbishop Whately and me on the subject.

[2] Now forming a chapter in his volume on _The Philosophy of Discovery_.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

INTRODUCTION.

§ 1. A definition at the commencement of a subject must be
provisional 1

2. Is logic the art and science of reasoning? 2

3. Or the art and science of the pursuit of truth? 3

4. Logic is concerned with inferences, not with intuitive truths 5

5. Relation of logic to the other sciences 8

6. Its utility, how shown 10

7. Definition of logic stated and illustrated 11

BOOK I.

OF NAMES AND PROPOSITIONS.

CHAPTER I. _Of the Necessity of commencing with an
Analysis of Language._

§ 1. Theory of names, why a necessary part of logic 17

2. First step in the analysis of Propositions 18

3. Names must be studied before Things 21

CHAPTER II. _Of Names._

§ 1. Names are names of things, not of our ideas 23

2. Words which are not names, but parts of names 24

3. General and Singular names 26

4. Concrete and Abstract 29

5. Connotative and Non-connotative 31

6. Positive and Negative 42

7. Relative and Absolute 44

8. Univocal and Æquivocal 47