Synopsis
The Essentials Of Logic: Being A Second Edition Of Dralloc's Epitome Improved, Comprising An Universal System Of Practical Reasoning; Illustrated By Familiar Examples, From Approved Authors by John Collard provides a concise, systematic treatment of logic aimed at practical reasoning. The work begins with a survey of ideas, distinguishing sensations from reflections, and explains abstraction, generalization, composition, and comparison as foundational mental operations. It then debates the nature of substances and modes, followed by a detailed treatment of language, definition, and the genus–species framework that underpins precise meaning. The book proceeds to the theory of evidence, distinguishing self-evident propositions from demonstrative conclusions, and then surveys simple, compound, universal, and particular propositions. It introduces and analyzes syllogisms—simple, complex, and artificial forms—along with enthymemes, oblique and hypothetical reasoning, and various divisions of reasoning. Throughout, Collard emphatically advocates a methodical, language-grounded approach to reasoning, aims for clarity and economy of expression, and uses familiar authorities (Locke, Hume, Addison, Pope) to illustrate points. The volume is a practical guide to thinking clearly and arguing persuasively via a standardized logical framework.
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