Excerpt from Logic: Or the Art of Reasoning Simplified That man is an intelligent creature, or a being capable of receiving intelligence to an indefinite extent, is not only a well known and established fact, but also one which involves the most important consequences. This single attribute of human existence not only elevates man in the scale of being, constitutes him capable of unlimited improvement, and of communicating it to others, but at the same time, as to the discharge of his duties, grants him the privilege to increase not only his respectability, but also his usefulness to the society with which he is connected. Though, on the one hand, it would be impossible duly to appreciate a gift so inestimable, yet on the other, be it remembered, that there is nothing given to man, there is no talent with which he is endued, but what requires cultivation. Not only our corporeal but also our mental faculties, unless they have salutary exercise, are liable to decline. The body for want of it is liable to wane into the most lamentable state of langor and imbecility; and the mind, for reasons perfectly analogous, through the want of exercising the means, with which we are so abundantly privileged, becomes inert and capable of being not only deceived by others, but also irrevocably injured through our own neglect. It cannot for a single moment be doubted, that man, as a sentient, intelligent being, stands as a candidate for happiness. All men seek it, in one way or the other: a single exception would be a parodox in the history of humanity. According to the extent precisely of our mental vision, not only happiness on the one hand, is before us, until it prospectively rise into all the excellency of a prize whose value is ineffable, but also on the other, the risk of losing that at which all, in one way or the other aim, is felt with a vigilant sensibility that constitutes the best guarantee of success. Attention is an important act in the mind of man; when that is gained much is done, yet not all. Though the prospect of success, from attention, immediately rise above zero in the scale of expectancy, yet more is wanting. An object the most desirable may be proposed, yet information of the means of its attainment may be either wanting, or we are not possessed of the method of so connecting the several parts of that information together, as from thence to deduce a conclusion such, as shall infallibly lead to the attainment of the object desired. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Logic: Or the Art of Reasoning Simplified That for ages past Error and Sophistry have imposed their de structive effects on myriads reputed rational, is one proof out of many, of the necessity of an aid, which unassisted nature does not ordinarily bestow. Even in the political department how often may it be observed, that one Speaker advocates measures diametrically op posed to the other; and the address of each perhaps is so plausible, as to gain half the house. Are both right. Certainly not, per haps neither, but, _ at least, half the house is deceived and that half if it prevail, will, on a vital question mislead the nation, and involve it in privation and suffering. Are there no means then of analyz ing the address that contains the fallacy no mode of discovering either the false premises assumed, or if they are right, of showing that the conclusion does not logically follow from them 2? Was there no fallacy, whether of composition, division, or accident, no begging the question, nor of building consequences on a mistaken one. Impossible; these, or one or more of them, must have been concealed; possibly even from the speaker himself, in one or the other of these orations. And the question yet remains, is there no means of more frequently and successfully exposing error, which in its whole extent may be justly pronounced to be, the most griev ous curse that afflicts humanity. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.