810. REASON. The Evidence or Proof of a given fact is at the same time the reason of our believing or knowing the same. Thus, "We must die, for all before us have died." (Proof, from Analogy) Again, "We know that we must die, for all before us have died." Here, now, the proof in the former case, becomes the reason of our knowledge in the latter. 811. Hence, Evidence and Proof may be said to be in a sense Objective, (i. e pertaining to things without.) and Reason Subjective, (i. e. concerning our mental status,) in a given case. 812. Care must be taken not to confound these four very important elements, viz: Antecedent Cause, Occasion, Evidence and Proof, and Reason. Since in the clause-form they all may take the same connectives, they are particularly liable to be confounded. Thus, "The flowers were frozen last night, for the weather was very cold," (Cause); for they were uncovered," (Occasion); for they are dry and withered," (Evidence); for they are stiff and dead," (Proof); but I think (or know) they were frozen last night, for, &c.," using either of the above, (Reason); since in either case the clause in question would furnish the reason merely of my thinking or knowing. EXERCISE 98.-Analyze, define the Elements, and parse. Distinguish carefully Cause, Occasion, Evidence and Proof, and Reason, also the different kinds of Evidence. 1. It rained last night, for the ground is wet. 2. The cars have arrived and gone, for the coaches are leaving the depot. 3. I know there was a place called Palmyra, because many historians assert it 4. The man was evidently killed, for he was never after seen. 5 It will probably storm soon, for the mercury falls rapidly. 6 The soldiers fought bravely, for they loved their country. 7. I believe the planets are inhabited, since otherwise their creation would seem to be useless. 8. "With many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." 9. "By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child."-Bible. 10. "With whomsoever thou findest thy Gods let him not live. Before our brethren, discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them."Bible. CHAPTER VII. THE LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE SUBJECT AND THE PREDICATE IN A PROPOSITION. 813. We have seen that two distinct elements, a subject and a predicate, are indispensable to the structure of a proposition. Now propositions are essential to the communication of thought. Let us examine the philosophy of this. 814. The communication of thought supposes two things, 1. Certain facts known to the speaker, which are not known to the hearer. 2. Certain facts known to both in common. Hence, when the knowledge possessed by the speaker and the hearer is precisely the same in quantity and kind; or when the knowledge of the one is entirely distinct from the knowledge of the other so that they have no facts in common, communication is impossible, since nothing new can be given in the one case, and nothing can be made intelligible in the other. 814. Hence, then, two elements are indispensable to intellectual communication, viz: 1. Facts known only to the speaker. 2. Facts known to both speaker and hearer. The former always constitutes the subject, in a given proposition, the latter the predicate; that is, the subject always embraces the facts and conceptions in the mind of the speaker; the predicate, facts and conceptions familiar to speaker and hearer. 815. Now the communication of thought, consists simply in the speaker's creating in the mind of the hearer, out of his store of knowledge, conceptions similar to those in his own mind. This he does through the mediumship of verbal signs or language. Thus A wishes to give to B an idea of a pearl. B has no conception whatever of the object, but he has very perfect ideas of color, form, magnitude, &c. 816. Hence, we have the two elements of a proposition. A's conception of a pearl, unknown to B, and B's knowledge of the qualities and attributes of matter in general, in com |