Page:Ferrier's Works Volume 1 - Institutes of Metaphysic (1875 ed.).djvu/185

RhPROP. VI.————

every cognition did not contain an element common to all cognition, there could be no unity in cognitions; they could not be classed together. But they are classed together. They all rank as cognitions. Therefore every cognition must contain an element common to all cognition. Again, if every cognition did not contain an element (or elements) peculiar to itself, there could be no diversity in cognitions; they could not be distinct from each other. But they are distinct from each other. They rank not only as cognitions, but as different cognitions. Therefore every cognition must contain an element (or elements) peculiar to itself. And thus the constitution of every cognition involves an unchangeable, necessary, and universal part—a part which is the same in all,—and a changeable, contingent, and particular part—a part which is different in all; and there can be no knowledge of either of these parts by itself, or exclusive of the other part; but all knowledge is necessarily a synthesis of both factors.

1. The words "unchangeable" (or permanent)