Synopsis
Logick: Or, The Right Use Of Reason In The Inquiry After Truth. By Isaac Watts. This comprehensive 18th-century handbook guides readers in using reason rightly across religion, science, and daily life. Watts defines logic as the art of promoting truth and avoiding error, and structures the subject into four parts: Perceptions and Ideas; Of Substances and Modes; Of Words and their divisions; and Not-Being and the ten Predicaments. He then treats Judgment and Propositions, with a rigorous account of universal and particular, affirmative and negative propositions, and the conversion of propositions. The third part covers Reason and Syllogism, including the forms of syllogisms, various moods and figures, causal and analogical reasoning, and common fallacies (sophisms) to be avoided. The final part concerns Method, distinguishing natural and arbitrary methods and advising on analytic, synthetic, and mixed approaches. Throughout, the author foregrounds evidence from sense, conscience, intelligence, faith, and inspiration, and exhorts readers to cultivate clear ideas, firm conclusions, and a disciplined, charitable pursuit of truth, guarding against prejudice and confusion.
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