CHAPTER VI. 878 h draught, because it representé the colours by paint, as well as the shape of the object by delineation. Now so many, or rather so few of these ideas put together, as are just sufficient to distin- guish a picture from all other representations, make up its essen- tial difference, or its special nature ; and all these are included in its being painted on a plain surface. Then join this to the genus ,'which is a representation ; and thus you have the complete definition of the picture of a man, namely, it is the representa- tion of a man in paint upon a surface, (or a plane.) Here it must be observed, that when we speak of the geniis and difference as composing a definition, it must be always understood that the nearest genus, and the specific difference are required. The next general nature, . or the nearest genus, must be used in a definition, because it includes all the rest as parts. of its complex idea ; as if Z would define wine, I must say, wine is a juice, which is the nearest genus; and not say, wine is a liquid, which is a remote general nature ; or, wine is a substance, which is yet more remote, for juice includes both substauce-and liquid. Besides, neither of these two remote general natures would make any distinction between wine and a thousand other sub- stances, or other liquids, a remote genus leaves the thing too much undistinguished. The specific difference is that primary attribute which distin- guishes each species from one another, while they stand ranked under the saine general nature or genus. Though wine differs from other liquids, in that it is the juice of a certain fruit, yet this is but a general or generic dérence, for it does not distin- guish wine from cyder or perry, the specific difference of wine therefore is its pressure from the grape; as cyder is pressed from apples, and perry from pears. In definitions also we must use the primary attribute that distinguishes the species or special nature, and not attempt to de- define wine by its particular tastes, or effects, or other properties, which are but secondary or consequential, when its pressure from the grape is the most obvious and primary distinction of it from all other juices. .I confess in some cases it is-not so easily known, which is the primary idea that distinguishes one thing from ano- ther ; and therefore some would as soon define winter by the cold- ness of the season, as by the shortness of the days ; though the shortness of the days is doubtless the most just, primary, and philosophical difference betwixt that and the other seasons of the year, since winter days are always shortest, but not always the coldest: I add also, that the shortness of the days is one cause of the coldness, but the cold is no cause of their shortness. A a 3
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