DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48955#0312
3o6 TERMS DEFINED
man will say that he can form any idea of beauty',
till he think of a person endued with that quality ■
nor that he can form an idea of weight, till he takes
under consideration a body that is weighty. And
when he takes under consideration a body endued
with one or other of the properties mentioned ,
the idea he forms is not an abssrafl or general
idea, but the idea of a particular body with its
properties. But though a part and the whole, a
subjedt and its attributes, an effect and its cause,
are so intimately connected , as that an idea can-
not be formed of the one independent of the
other; yet we can reason upon the one abstrac-
ting from the other.
This is done by words signifying the thing to
which the reasoning is confined; and such words
are denominated abftracl terms. Tfie meaning
and use of an abstraft term is well understood ,
though of itself, unless other particulars be taken
in , it raises no image nor idea in the mind. In
language it serves excellent purpose ; by it differ-
ent sigures, different colors , can be compared,
without the trouble of conceiving them as belong,
ing to [any particular subjedt ; and they contribute
with words significant to raise images or ideas in
the mind.
42, The power of absiraclion is bestowed on
man, for the purpose solely os reasoning. It tends
greatly to the facility as well as clearness of any
process of reasoning, that, laying aside every other
man will say that he can form any idea of beauty',
till he think of a person endued with that quality ■
nor that he can form an idea of weight, till he takes
under consideration a body that is weighty. And
when he takes under consideration a body endued
with one or other of the properties mentioned ,
the idea he forms is not an abssrafl or general
idea, but the idea of a particular body with its
properties. But though a part and the whole, a
subjedt and its attributes, an effect and its cause,
are so intimately connected , as that an idea can-
not be formed of the one independent of the
other; yet we can reason upon the one abstrac-
ting from the other.
This is done by words signifying the thing to
which the reasoning is confined; and such words
are denominated abftracl terms. Tfie meaning
and use of an abstraft term is well understood ,
though of itself, unless other particulars be taken
in , it raises no image nor idea in the mind. In
language it serves excellent purpose ; by it differ-
ent sigures, different colors , can be compared,
without the trouble of conceiving them as belong,
ing to [any particular subjedt ; and they contribute
with words significant to raise images or ideas in
the mind.
42, The power of absiraclion is bestowed on
man, for the purpose solely os reasoning. It tends
greatly to the facility as well as clearness of any
process of reasoning, that, laying aside every other