ELEMENTS OF CRITICISM VOL 2 CL (Natural Law Cloth)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1762. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... and cannot exist independent of each other: the same of length, breadth, and thickness: and yet we can mentally confine our ob-» iervations to one of these, neglecting or abstracting from the rest. Here abstraction takes place where there cannot be a real separation. •> 1 • .:,-'si 38. This power of abstraction is of great utility. A carpenter considers a log of .wood, with regard to hardness, firmness* colour, and texture: a philosopher, neglect-* ting these properties, makes the log undergo a chymical analysis; and examines its' taste, its smell, and its component principles: the geometrician confines his reasoning to the figure, the length, breadth,' and thickness. In general, every artist, abstracting from all other properties, confines his observations to those which have a more immediate connection with his profession. - 39. Hence clearly appears the meaning of an abftraSi term, and abflraEl idea. If in viewing an object, we can abstract from some of its parts or properties, and attach ourselves to others; there must be the same facility, when we recall this object to the mind In idea. This leads directly to the definition of an abstract idea, viz. " A par* "tial view of a complex object, limited to