Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/196

 Whether the Moderns have been deficient in this noble Part of Logick, may be seen by those who will compare Des Cartess Discourse of Method, Mr. Locks Essay of Humane Understanding, and Tschirnhaus's Medicina Mentis, with what we have of the Ancients concerning the Art of Thinking: Where, though it may be pretended that their Thoughts and Discoveries are not entirely new in themselves, yet to us, at least, they are so, since they are not immediately owing to ancient Assistances, but to their own Strength of Thought, and Force of Genius. And since this Art is, indeed, the Foundation of all Knowledge, I ought to take notice, that my Lord Bacon and Des Cartes were the two Great Men, who both found Fault with the Logick of the Schools, as insufficient of it self for the great Design of Logick, which is the Advancement of real Learning; and got Authority enough to persuade the World, in a very great Degree, that other Methods must be taken, besides making Syllogisms; and ranking the Sorts of Things under Predicaments and Predicables, by those who would go much farther than their Predecessors went before them. The true Use of the common Logick, being rather to explain what we know already, and to detect the Fal-