Among the acknowledged faults of our philosopher's writings, the most fundamental appear to be his nume rous unnecessary definitions of simple terms, which he sometimes admits cannot be defined ; his many verbal distinctions, unfounded in nature, and his inconsiderate multiplication of first principles. In this he appears to have been misled by the prevailing opinions of the age in which he lived, and to have been forgetful of that vi gilant circumspection which he practised in his re searches into natural history.
We cannot undertake, in the limited space which must he allotted to this article, to present our readers with a synopsis of Aristotle's opinions. The style which he has adopted is generally so laconic as to defy every at tempt to say the same thing more compendiously. We shall not even pretend to extract from the vast mass of his writings, what appears to he the most valuable. We might refer to many continuous pages of what Cicero denominates that river of flowing gold, (illud Rumen orationis aureum !widens .1ristoteles) so uniformly pre. cious that no alloy can be detected ; and we might some times be disposed to pass over much more spacious por tions as being totally void of utility. But it is impossible for any abridgment to convey an adequate notion, either of the merits or the detects of this illustrious author.
His logical works (or his Organon, as it is generally called) comprehend the following treatises : 1. Of Categories, one book. 2. Oi Interpretation, one book. 3. First Analytics, two books. 4. Last Analytics, two books. 5. Topics, eight books. 6. Of Sophisms, one book. To this remnant of his Logic (for great part of it is lost)• the common editions of his works have prefixed Porphy ry's Introduction, containing the doctrine of the five predicables, or universals, which are genus, species, dif ferentia, proprium, and accidens; and which are consi dered as an enumeration of all the classes of things which can be affirmed or predicated of a subject. The cate gories, or predicaments, profess to arrange all the objects of human thought under ten heads ; viz. substance, quantity, quality, relation, where, when, position, habit, action, passion, (i-i 'rotor, wow, 'rein •1, %VP, 'roll, 4611V, VrO(ElY, vrecrx v) This distribution, though not unexceptionable in point of completeness or formality, appears to be as perfect as any of those which have pretended to improve on it. The book of Interpretation relates to the principles of language, and the various kinds of categorical propositions. The first .4nalgics treats of the conversion of propositions, the struLture of syllogisms, the invention of a middle term, the ri su:ution of syllogisms, and the powers of syllogisms ; consider ing them merely in respect of form. The last ?lnalytics
relate to their matter, sheaving what syllogisms are alio dictical, or demonstrative. The Topics are intended to teach the various methods of reasoning with probability, or of applying dialectical syllogisms. The book con cerning Sophisms, treats of fallacious or sophistical argu ments, and attempts to enumerate all the fallacies which can be introduced into a syllogism. All those which are not in the diction are reduced to one head, the ignorant elenchi, or mistake of the question.
On the logic of Aristotle, we shall only observe that it is not to be regarded merely as a wonderful monument of the force of human genius, and a venerable relic of antiquity. The syllogistic art, though inapplicable as an engine of science, or as the means of enlarging our ac quaintance with nature, is capable of proving a useful auxiliary to the improvement of the intellectual facul ties ; particularly by giving a methodical turn to the thoughts, and enabling us to disentangle ourselves from those perplexities which so frequently occur in abstract questions, and which sometimes involve the uncultivated mind in inextricable confusion. Syllogism indeed can not impart the faculty of reason ; it cannot establish first principles ; it cannot lead to invention in arts, or to dis covery in science. But it is the only certain mode of estimating the reasoning which proceeds from general principles to particular conclusions ; it is useful for en forcing conviction on those who obstinately maintain erroneous opinions, or who reluctantly admit truths which may thus be infallibly proved ; and without it we should often find it difficult to form a correct judgment of the reasonings of others, and to detect the inconclu sive parts of an illegitimate argument. Lord Bacon admits, that in the sciences of Ethics, Politics, Legisla tion and Theology, it may be converted to useful purr poses. On this subject some very ingenious and judi cious observations were contained in the lectures of the late D r Finlay son. • The works which have been called the Physics of Aristotle are, On the Doctrine of Nature, on Heaven, On Generation and Corruption, on Meteors, On Animal Life, Physical Miscellanies, On the•History of Animals, On the Parts of Animals, On Colours, On Sound, On Wonderful Facts, On the Winds, On Physiognomy, Mis cellaneous Problems, On the Soul, or Vital Principle, On the Senses, On Memory, On Sleep, on Dreams, Ste. The books On Plants, and that On the lVorld, sometimes ascribed to him, are not generally admitted to he his.