Page:O. F. Owen's Organon of Aristotle Vol. 1 (1853).djvu/283

 yet they differ, for that they are, is part of another science, (for the subject genus is another,) but why they are, is a province of a superior science, of which they are the essential qualities. Hence from these things also it is apparent that we cannot demonstrate each thing simply, but from its proper principles, and the principles of these have something common.

If then this is evident, it is also clear that it is impossible to demonstrate the proper principles of each thing, for they will be the principles of all things, and the science of them the mistress of all (sciences): for the man has more scientific knowledge who knows from superior causes, since he knows from prior things when he knows not from effects, but from causes. So that if he knows more, he knows also most, and if that be science, it is also more, and most of all such. Demonstration however is not suitable to another genus, except as we have said, geometrical to mechanical or optical, and arithmetical to harmonical demonstrations. Nevertheless it is difficult to know whether a man possesses knowledge or not, since it is hard to ascertain if we know from the principles of each thing or not, which indeed constitutes knowledge. We think however that we know, if we have got a syllogism from certain primary truths, but it is not so, since it is necessary that they should be of a kindred nature with the primary.