Isaac Watts
Description
Logic was a standard textbook on the subject for almost two centuries. First published in 1724, Watts examines the most fundamental question of all: h
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ow do we know that something is true? In four parts, he discusses words, propositions, syllogisms, and the other building blocks of human thought. Later on, Watts famously wrote The Improvement of the Mind as a companion to this work.
This edition is a reproduction of a modernized edition of Watts' work, so the spelling is updated for modern readers. Though Watts calls upon his readers to think, his book is still very accessible for the average reader.
Isaac Watts (1674–1748) was an English nonconformist minister, song writer, theologian, and logician. He was a popular hymn writer and is credited with more than 750 hymns. His songs include "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "Joy to the World," and "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past.” He is considered the father of English hymnody. Watts also wrote widely-used guides on astronomy, geography, grammar, and philosophy. First written in 1724, Logic, The Right Use of Reason in the Inquiry After Truth was a standard textbook on logic for 200 years.
Contents of Logic
The Introduction, and general scheme
The First Part, namely, of Perception and Ideas
Chapter 1 — Of the nature of ideas
Chapter 2 — Of the objects of perception
Chapter 3 — Of the several sorts of perceptions or ideas
Chapter 4 — Of words, and their several divisions, together with the advantage and danger of them
Chapter 5 — General directions relating to our ideas
Chapter 6 — Special rules to direct our conceptions of things
The Second Part, namely, of Judgment and Proposition
Chapter 1 — Of the nature of a proposition, and its several parts
Chapter 2 — Of the various kinds of propositions
Chapter 3 — The springs of false judgment, or the doctrine of prejudices
Chapter 4 — General directions to assist us in judging aright
Chapter 5 — Special rules to direct us in judging of particular objects
The Third Part, namely, of Reasoning and Syllogism
Chapter 1 — Of the nature of a syllogism, and of the parts of which it is composed
Chapter 2 — Of the various kinds of syllogisms, with particular rules relating to them
Chapter 3 — The doctrine of syllogisms
Chapter 4 — Some general rules to direct our reasoning
The Fourth Part, namely, of Method
Chapter 1 — The nature and kinds of method, viz. natural and arbitrary, synthetic and analytic
Chapter 2 — General and special rules of method
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