368 LOGIC : OR, THE RIGHT I/SE OF REASON. ject into universal and particular; this is usually called a divi- sion, arising from the, quantity. An universal proposition is when the subject is taken accord- ing to the whole of its extension ; so if the subject be a genus, or general nature, it includes all its species or kinds : if the subject be a species, it includes all its individuals. This universality is usually signified by these words, all, every, no, none, or the like ; as, all men must die ; no man is almighty : every crea. ture had a beginning. A particular proposition is when the subject is not taken according to its whole extension ; that is, when the term is limited and restrained to some one or more of those species or individuals, whose general nature it expresses, but reaches not to all ; and this is usually denoted by the words, some, many, a few, there are, which, &c. as, some birds can sing well : few men are truly wise : there are parrots which will talk a hundred things. Under the general naine of universal propositions, we may justly include those that are singular, and for the most part those that are indefinite also. A singular proposition iz£ when the subject is a singular or individual term or idea; as Descartes was an ingenious philoso- pher : Sir Isaac Newton has far exceeded all his predecessors : the palace at Hampton Court is a pleasant dwelling : this day is very cold. The subject here must be taken according to the whole of its extension, because being an individual, it can ex- tend only to one, and it must therefore be regulated by the laws of universal propositions. An indefinite proposition, is when no note, either of uni-: versality or particularity, is prefixed to a subject, which is in its own nature general ; as a planet is ever. changing its place ; angels are noble creatures. Now this sort of proposition, espe- cially when it describes the nature of things, is usually counted universal also, and it supposes the subject to be taken in its whole extension ; for if there were any planet which did not change its place, or any angel that were not a noble creature, these propo- sitions would not be strictly true. Yet in order to secure us against mistakes in judging of universal, particular, and indefinite propositions, it is necessary to make these following remarks : I. Concerning universal propositions. Note 1. Universal terms may either denote a metaphysical, a physical, or a 'moral universality. A metaphysical or snatheb:atical universality, is when all the particulars contained under any general idea have the same predicate 'belonging to them without any exception whatsoever; or when the predicate is so essential tó the universal subject, that it destroys the very nature of the subject to be without it ; as, all
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=