LOGIC. ...._ T FIRST PART. Of Perception and Ideas. THE first part of Logic contains observations and precepts about the first operation of the mind, perception or conception: and since all our knowledge, how wide and large soever it grows, is founded upon our conceptions and ideas, here we shall consider, 1. The general nature of them. 2. The objects of our conception, or the archetypes or patterns of these ideas. 3. The several divisions of them. 4. The words and terms whereby our ideas are expressed. .5. General directions about our ideas. 6. Special rules to direct our conceptions. CHAPTER I. Of the Nature of Ideas. FIRST, the nature of conception or perceptions` shall just be mentioned, though this may seem to belong to another science rather than Logic. Perception is that act of the mind (or, as some philosophers call it, rather a passion or impression) whereby the mind be- comes conscious of any thing. As when I feel hunger, thirst, or cold, or heat ; when I see a horse, a tree, or a man ; when I hear a human voice, or thunder, I am conscious of these things ; this is called perception. If I study, meditate, wish, or fear, I am conscious of these inward acts also, and my mind perceives its own thoughts, wishes, fears, he. An idea is generally defined a representation of a thing in the mind ; it is a representation of something that we have seen, felt, heard, &c. or been conscious of. That notion or form of a horse, a tree, or a man, which is in the mind is called the idea sf' a horse, a tree, or a man. * Note, The words conception end perception are often used promiscuously, as I have done here, because I cold not embarrass a learner with too many dis. tinelioos ; but if I were to distinguish them,. I could say, perception is the consci- oneness of an object when present ; mullion is the forming as idea of the object *bather present or a bseat.
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