Organon (Owen)/Topics/Book 6

Chap. 1. On Places connected with Definition.
 * 1. Five parts of definitional discussion.
 * 2. Three of these enunciated, lib. ii. 4, 5.
 * 3. The remaining inquiry is about proper definition, or its subsistence at all.
 * 4. Two parts about right definition.

Chap. 2. Of Places relative to defining rightly.
 * 1. Definition faulty from obscurity, if an equivocal statement be employed, or the thing defined be equivocal.
 * 2. Obscurity incident to metaphor.
 * 3. Also to unusual terms.
 * 4. Also if an expression be used, not in its proper sense.
 * 5. If the contrary is not intelligible from it, or the definition needs explanation.

Chap. 3. Of Superfluity in Definition.
 * 1. Observation upon excess to be made, if any thing be introduced which is predicated of all things, or of those which are in the same genus as the thing to be defined.
 * 2. Whether any part of the definition being abstracted, the remainder defines the thing.
 * 3. Whether there is any thing in the definition, which cannot be predicated of all subjects, of the same species.
 * 4. If the same thing be stated frequently.
 * 5. If the same thing stated universally, is stated also in addition, of a part.

Chap. 4. As to whether the Definition contains what a thing is.
 * 4.1. Consideration of the truth or falsity, of definition.
 * False, if the definition be not through things prior to, and more known than, the thing defined.
 * Some things simply more known; others more so, to us.
 * A true definition is from things which are simply, and of themselves, more known.
 * What is constant, ought not therefore to be defined, by the inconstant.
 * Nor the contrary, by the contrary.
 * Nor the thing itself, to be included in its own definition.
 * Nor ought the definition to be by a coordinate.
 * Nor by the subjects of the thing defined.

Chap. 5. Topics connected with Definition, as to Genus.
 * 1. We must observe whether genus, of the thing to be defined, is omitted.
 * 2. Whether any thing be left out, of those to which the defiendum belongs.
 * 3. Whether the thing be referred, not to the better, but to the worse.
 * 4. Whether the genus be not rightly constituted.
 * 5. Whether the proximum genus be not assumed.

Chap. 6. Of Difference, as to Genus, Species, etc.
 * 1. Ratio of difference to be considered.
 * 2. Also whether genus, be divided by negation. Exceptional case.
 * 3. Whether species be assigned as difference.
 * 4. Or genus be so assigned.
 * 5. Whether the difference signify this particular thing.
 * 6. Or has the notion of accident.
 * 7. Or if difference or species be predicated of genus.
 * 8. Or genus of the difference.
 * 9. Or species of difference.
 * 10. Whether the same difference belong to another genus.
 * 11. Whether situation be assigned as the difference of substance.
 * 12. Or affection be assigned as difference.
 * 13. Whether the difference of relatives, be not relative.
 * 14. Whether the relation be apt.
 * 15. Whether the definition be of what is proximate.
 * 16. Whether the affection be truly in that, of which it is defined the affection.
 * 17. Whether the ratio of time, concurs with the thing defined.

Chap. 7. Whether another Definition may be more explicit, etc.
 * 1. Observe if any thing else better expresses the nature of the thing to be defined, than the proposed definition.
 * 2. Whether the definition admits degrees, whilst the thing defined does not, and vice versâ.
 * 3. Or both, not simultaneously.
 * 4. Whether of what the definition is more predicated, the predication according to definition, be less.
 * 5. Or the one similarly present with both, but not the other.
 * 6. Whether the definiiton be adapted, to several things according to each.
 * 7. Whether there is any discrepancy in framing definitions, of genera and differences.

Chap. 8. Of Definition as to Relation.
 * 1. Observe if the defined be referred to something, whether that to which it is referred, has not been mentioned.
 * 2. Whether a thing be referred to generation, or energy.
 * 3. Whether respect be had to quantity, quality, or place, etc.
 * 4. Whether in the definition of appetites, a notion of things of like species, be added.

Chap. 9. Of Definition as to Contraries, etc.
 * 1. Observe whether the definition of the contrary, or of the cognates of the thing defined, can be attained from the definition given.
 * 2. Whether if when the genus is referred to any thing, the species is referred to the species, of the same.
 * 3. Whether the definition of an opposite be opposed.
 * 4. Whether habit be defined by privation, or a contrary by a contrary.
 * 5. Whether of what is privatively predicated, the subject of privation is not assigned.
 * 6. Whether that is defined by privation, which is not privatively predicated.

Chap. 10. As to the similarity of cases in the Definition and in the Noun.
 * 1. Observe whether the cases of the definition, concur with the several ones, of the thing defined.
 * 2. Whether the definition, accords to the idea.
 * 3. Whether of things ambiguous, one common definition is assigned of all.

Chap. 11. Of Composite and Singular Definition.
 * 1. Observe whether of composites defined the individual members, be rightly defined, the definition being divided.
 * 2. Whether of a composite, the definition consists, of as many members as the thing defined.
 * 3. Whether more obscure terms are employed.
 * 4. Whether for one word, another has been substituted, not equivalent in signification.
 * 5. Whether in changing a word, a change is made of the genus.

Chap. 12. The same subject continued.
 * 1. Observe whether the assigned definitions of difference, concur with some other notion also.
 * 2. Whether what is to be defined be existent; but what is expressed by the assigned definition, be non-existent.
 * 3. Whether in the definition of a relative, that to which the notion to be defined refers, is of too wide extension.
 * 4. Whether the definition be assigned "non rei ipsius," sed "rei perfectæ."
 * 5. Whether what is eligible "per se," is defined, as if eligible "propter aliud."

Chap. 13. Of Distinctive Notions in Definition.
 * 13.1. How he may be confuted who defines one notion, so as to make two ("hoc et illud").
 * 13.2. Or so as to make one notion, but composed of many parts ("hoc ex illis").
 * 2. Composition from the better and worse.
 * 3. The whole synonymous with the other part.
 * 4. Explanation of the mode of composition.
 * 13.3. Or so as to state the notion to be defined, is equal to one joined to the other, ("hoc cum illo.")
 * 2. Obs. of negation.
 * 3. Of identity of relation.
 * 4. Illustration.
 * 5. Exceptions.

Chap. 14. On the Definition of the whole as a Composite, etc.
 * 14.1. Observe whether in stating a composite, the definer has added the quality, of the compound.
 * 14.2. If he has defined by one contrary, that which is capable of both.
 * 14.3. Definition partially impugnable.
 * 14.4. Or to be amended.
 * 14.5. Advantage of oneself arranging a definition.

