Page:Ferrier's Works Volume 1 - Institutes of Metaphysic (1875 ed.).djvu/235

RhPROP. VII.———— observed in these creatures. We perceive a number of vegetable formations. Overlooking their differences, and attending to their agreements, we give the name of "plant" to the sum of these agreements. Again overlooking the differences, and attending to the resemblances in animals and plants, we give the name of "organic" to the sum of these resemblances. And so on in regard to all other things. By overlooking the differences, and attending to the resemblances of singulars, we form a species; by overlooking the differences, and attending to the resemblances of species, we form a genus; by overlooking the differences, and attending to the resemblance of genera, we form a still higher genus, until we ascend up to ens, or "Being," the highest generalisation of ordinary ontology as described in the common schoolbooks upon logic. With this kind of generalisation we have no concern. It has been pointed out only that it may be carefully distinguished from the process now to be described.

10. The epistemological generalisation is altogether different. It has nothing to do with things, but only with cognitions of things. We have a number of cognitions of things—cognitions of living creatures, for example. Overlooking the differences as much as possible, and attending to the agreements of these cognitions, we give the name of "animal" to the sum of these agreements—not