Page:O. F. Owen's Organon of Aristotle Vol. 1 (1853).djvu/277

 is the principle, but that which is primary of the genus about which the demonstration is made, nor is every thing true appropriate. But that it is necessary that the syllogism should consist of necessary things appears also from these; for if he who cannot assign a reason why a thing is, when there is a demonstration, does not possess knowledge, let A be necessarily predicated of C, but B the medium through which it is demonstrated not of necessity, (in this case) he does not know the cause. For this is not on account of the medium, for the latter may not exist, yet the conclusion is necessary. Besides, if some one does not know, though he now possesses a reason, and is safe, the thing also being preserved, he not having forgotten it, neither did he before know it. But the medium may perish if it is not necessary, so that he, being safe, will have a reason, the thing being preserved, and yet not know it, wherefore neither did he know it before. But if the medium is not destroyed, yet may possibly perish, that which happens will be possible and contingent, it is impossible however that one so circumstanced should know.

When therefore the conclusion is from necessity, there is nothing to prevent the medium through which the demonstration was made from being not necessary, since it is possible to syllogize the necessary even from things not necessary, just as we may the true from things not true. Still when the medium is from necessity the conclusion is also from necessity, as the true (results) from the true always: for let A be of necessity predicated of B, and this of C, then it is