Page:Ferrier's Works Volume 1 - Institutes of Metaphysic (1875 ed.).djvu/359

RhPROP. XVI.———— the substantial and the phenomenal, the absolute and the relative, in cognition, equate with the substantial and the phenomenal, the absolute and the relative, in existence.

4. From what has been said, it will be obvious that the question which this proposition answers is simply this: Is there any such thing as known substance?—a point which it is of the utmost importance to determine, the definition of known substance being at the same time given. And the answer which the proposition returns to this question is the affirmative—yes. Now it is remarkable that ordinary thinking also answers this question in the affirmative; and therefore, in so far as ordinary thinking is concerned, there is no counter-proposition, and, consequently, the natural opinion on this point stands in no need of correction. The contradictory inadvertency of natural thinking only comes to light when it condescends upon what known substance is. Vulgar opinion concedes that there are known substances; and so far vulgar opinion is exempt from error. But ask vulgar opinion what known substance is, and vulgar opinion is instantly at fault. It declares that logs of wood and brickbats, and articles of that description, are known substances. Such a statement is contradictory; because known substance, according to the definition, is that, and only that which can be known or thought of